Gophers Host Penn State in Big Ten Opener

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) opens up their Big Ten season with Penn State (7-1, 0-0 B1G) coming to Williams Arena on Dec. 3, at 7:30 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 PENN STATE GAME

Minnesota's game with Penn State will serve as the Gophers first Big Ten game of the 2022-23 season. Saturday will be the first time the Gophers have matched up with the Nittany Lions in their first Big Ten game since 2019-20, when the Gophers won 81-74 in State College. In Big Ten openers head coach Lindsay Whalen is 2-2.
Minnesota and Penn State have faced off 51 times in their history with Minnesota owning a 22-29 record against the Nittany Lions.
Last year the Maroon and Gold defeated Penn State in State College 94-83 in the finale of the regular season. The Gophers have won seven of the last eight meetings with Penn State. The only loss during that streak coming in 2021. Prior to 2021 the Gophers hadn't lost to Penn State since 2017.
Penn State is coming off its first loss of the 2022-23 campaign, falling 89-68 to Virginia on Nov. 30.
Penn State was not in the Top 5 Preseason Big Ten Poll.
Junior Makenna Marisa garnered a spot on the Preseason All-Big Ten Media and Coaches' Team. The junior was a consensus All-Big Ten First-Team pick by the coaches and media last year. This season Marisa is leading the team in scoring at 16.8 ppg and shoots 37.9 percent from beyond the arc and 44.0 percent from the floor. She's posted two double doubles, one with rebounds and one with assists, this season. Her season-high is 24 points in the season opener against Norfolk St.
Penn State's leading rebounder this season is Johnasia Cash, who has started two games, including against Virginia. Her 6.5 per game rebounding average is paired with 6.0 ppg and a 51.4 percent field goal percentage.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last time out the Maroon and Gold fell to Wake Forest in the ACC-Big Ten Challegne at Williams Arena. The Gophers battled back from double digits to tie the game with 19 seconds remaining before Wake Forest hit a step-back three to escape with the 63-59 road victory. Mara Braun scored a game-high 27 points while Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux registered her fourth double double in seven games this season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
After a stellar week of play at the Cav Classic freshman Amaya Battle moved into the starting lineup for the first time in her career against Wake Forest in place of Isabelle Gradwell. Battle finished with four assists and a pair of steals against the Demon Deacons. Battle as of Dec. 2, is one of the top rebounding freshman in the conferene at 6.6 per game and is No. 22 overall. She is the top freshman in assists per game at 5.0 and is No. 6 in the Big Ten. The Hopkins, Minn., is also No. 12 in blocks per game overall at 1.2 and is No. 12 overall in asissts-to-turnover ratio (1.8).
Battle joining the starting lineup made the Gophers the first team in the Big Ten this season to start four freshman in a game. Wisconsin is the next closest team with three freshman starting in a game this season.
Mara Braun continued her red-hot start to the season with her third 24+ point performance in six games played. Braun's 27-point performance against Wake Forest made her just the fourth freshman since 2009-10 to score 27+ points, make 5+ 3FG, register 3+ steals and 1+ blocks against a Power 5 opponent.
Through six games the Golden Gophers have been one of the rest rebounding teams in the Big Ten with an average of 45.1 per game as a team which is No. 2 in the conference and No. 20 in the nation. The team has been one of the best on the offensive glass at 15.6 per game, No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 34 in the nation. Minnesota's perimeter defense has also been solid, ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten at 27.2 percent.
Announced last 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
4 - In the last four games Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux is averaging 14.3 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. Micheaux has also made six or more field goals in four straight games.
8 - Eight different Minnesota student-athletes have the opportunity to make their Big Ten debuts on Saturday against Penn State.
1 - True freshman Amaya Battle leads all Big Ten freshman in assists per game at 5.0.
4 - Mara Braun is ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten in points per game at 19.7 and is also No. 4 in threes made per game at 2.7.
50 - The Maroon and Gold will aim to start quickly this weekend with head coach Lindsay Whalen holding a record of 50-17 when leading after the first quarter.

SPECIAL TICKET PROMOTION
With a purchase of a ticket Saturday to Gopher Volleyball against SE Louisiana, fans can also walk over to Williams Arena to see Minnesota Women's Basketball play at 7:30 p.m. after Saturday's match concludes.

The University of Minnesota continues its run against Power 5 opponents on Dec. 7, against the Kentucky Wildcats. That game can be seen on B1G+ at 7 p.m. and can 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

Mara Braun

Isabelle Gradwell