Gophers to Take On Wake Forest in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (4-2, 0-0 B1G) is ready for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with Wake Forest (4-3, 0-1 ACC) coming to Williams Arena on Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The nationally televised game is on Big Ten Network and can be heard on KFAN+ or on the iHeartRadio app with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.

ABOUT THE WAKE FOREST GAME

Minnesota's matchup with Wake Forest will be the second ACC team the Gophers have played in the past three games after taking on Virginia in the Cav Classic. Minnesota is 29-19 overall against the ACC with Lindsay Whalen holding a 4-2 coaching record.
Minnesota and Wake Forest are playing for just the third time in their history with the last meeting coming in 2017 when the Gophers won at the Lady Rebel Round-Up in Las Vegas, Nev., 93-81.
Wake Forest is coming off a victory over Coastal Carolina, keeping the team undefeated at home this season.
Wake Forest was picked to finish 14th in the ACC Presesaon Poll.
Junior guard Jewel Spear was named a Preseason All-ACC selection after being named First Team All-ACC as a sophomore. This season she averages 16.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and is shooting 44.9 percent and has made 21 threes, shooting 44.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Through seven games this season, junior forward Demeara Hinds has been one of the best players on the glass in the country, pulling down 61 rebounds which ranks 42nd nationally and leads all ACC players in offensive rebounds per game. Additionally, she has collected 28 offensive rebounds.
The Demon Deacons have been the best team in the ACC at shooting the three-point shot so far this season, knocking down 8.4 threes per game over their first six games.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last weekend the Gophers finished 1-1 at the Cav Classic, falling to host Virginia before picking up a bounce back win over Liberty. The Gophers were led by Mara Braun (24 points, 10 rebounds) against Virginia and Katie Borowicz (21 points, 5 steals, 5 assists) against Liberty.
Week three was the first week a Gopher freshman was not honored by the Big Ten Conference. Amaya Battle was once again outstanding for the Maroon and Gold at the Cav Classic, scoring an average of 10.5 points per game, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Battle as of Nov. 28, is the top rebounding freshman in the conference at 7.2 per game and is No. 9 overall. She is the top freshman in assists per game at 5.2 and is No. 5 in the Big Ten. The Hopkins, Minn., is also No. 10 in blocks per game overall at 1.2 and is No. 12 overall in asisst-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
Mara Braun returned to the starting lineup after missing the NDSU game with a lower-leg injury and coming off the bench against Presbyterian. In her return to the starting lineup the Wayzata, Minn., native finished with 24 points, including 16 in the fourth to help the Gophers come back from down nine with three minutes to go to pull within one with 19 seconds left. Braun's 24 points were matched by a career high 10 rebounds, making her the third different Gopher this season to register a double double.
Through six games the Golden Gophers have been one of the rest rebounding teams in the Big Ten with an average of 46.2 per game as a team which is No. 2 in the conference and No. 18 in the nation. The team has been one of the best on the offensive glass at 15.7 per game, No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 30 in the nation. Minnesota's perimeter defense has also been solid, ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten at 27.0 percent.
Katie Borowicz bounced back from a tough game against Virginia (6 points, 7 turnovers) with a career-best performance against Liberty. The redshirt-freshman scored a career high 21 points and matched her career-high in assists (5) and steals (5). She shot an outstanding 9-of-11 from the floor and was perfect from beyond the arc going 2-for-2. Borowicz also registered her first career block against the Flames.
Announced on Sunday on ESPN, Minnesota's LIndsay Whalen has been named as an inductee for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Whalen, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year, is joined by Carolyn Peck, Caty Boswell, donna Lopiano and Lisa Mattingly. The induction will be in April of 2023.
Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen has announced the addition of five student-athletes on Nov. 16, that have signed National Letters of Intent or an Acceptance of Admission to join the Minnesota women's basketball program for the 2023-24 season. Signing NLIs with the Golden Gophers are Kennedy Klick, MyKynnlie Dalan, Ajok Madol and Dominika Paurová while Brynn Senden signed an Acceptance of Admission.

BY THE NUMBERS
3 - In the last three games Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux is averagd 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
52 - Minnesota's freshmen combine to score 52.2 points per game this season.
1 - True freshman Amaya Battle leads all Big Ten freshman in rebounds per game at 7.2, which is ranked ninth overall in the conference.
3 - The Maroon and Gold have had three different players who have posted double doubles this season.
50 - The Maroon and Gold will aim to start quickly this weekend with head coach Lindsay Whalen holding a record of 50-16 when leading after the first quarter.

The University of Minnesota will play its second straight game against a Power 5 opponent on Saturday, Dec. 3, against Penn State to open up their Big Ten schedule. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on the Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on KFAN+ and the iHeartRadio app.

For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherWBB) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2022-23 season.

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Players Mentioned

Amaya Battle

Katie Borowicz

Mara Braun