Gophers Set for Matchup with Eastern Illinois

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (7-5, 1-1 B1G) wraps up the non-conference season with Eastern Illinois (8-2, 0-0 OVC) on December 22, at 3 p.m. The game, which has been moved up from 3:30 p.m. due to inclement weather, can be seen on B1G+ and can be heard on the iHeartRadio app or on KFAN+ with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.

ABOUT THE EASTERN ILLINOIS GAME

Minnesota's game with Eastern Illinois is the third time the two programs have met with the last contest coming in 2020 when Minnesota won 72-68 at Williams Arena. The only other meeting between the teams was in 2000 when the Gophers dropped a 73-72 game at the Kansas Tournament in Lawrence, Kan. The Gophers hold an overall record of 2-1 all-time against teams from the current Ohio Valley Conference.
Minnesota is 1-1 all time against Eastern Illinois. The only loss coming 2000.
The Panthers are winners of their last two games, taking down Milwaukee on the road 51-45 and Central Michigan at home 78-67. Eastern Illinois' only losses this season are to Northern Illinois (71-69) and Bradley (72-61), both at home. On the road Eastern Illinois is a perfect 4-0 this season. Eastern Illinois has not played a Power 5 opponent this season.
Eastern Illinois was picked to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll.
Eastern Illinois guard Lariah Washington was named the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season. So far this season Washington leads the team in scoring at 20.2 points per game and is shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and leads the team in steals.
Morgan Litwiller joined Washington on the Preseason All-OVC team. As of Dec. 21, Litwiller is third on the team in scoring at 8.4 points per game and is averaging 5.5 rebounds and is shooting 41.4 percent from the floor.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last time out the Maroon and Gold took down Milwaukee (3-7, 1-1 Horizon) by a score of 75-59 on Wednesday, December 14. In the 16-point win the Gophers had four of their five starters score in double figures. The team tied a season-high in threes shooting 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) in the win and outscored the Panthers by 11 in the second half to pull away and move to 6-2 at home this season. Mara Braun led the way with 21 points while Katie Borowicz notched a 17-point, seven assist and five rebound performance in the win.
Minnesota's offense has continued to improve throughout the season with one of the youngest teams in the nation. In the Gophers' last five games the team has shot 43.7 percent (145-of-332) from the floor and 39.2 percent (38-of-97) from beyond the arc. Both percentages are up from the first seven games of the season where Minnesota shot 29.9 percent (43-of-144) from three and 41.3 percent (205-of-496) from the floor. In that span the team has averaged 83.2 points per game.
Mallory Heyer has continued to improve throughout the ealry portion of the season, highlighted by her last five contests where the Chaska, Minn., native has averaged 14.4 ppg and has shot 27-of-51 (52.9 percent) from the floor and a stellar 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Heyer has also taken care of the ball throughout her rookie season, despite being second on the team in minutes played at 31.4 per game, has only averaged 0.9 turnovers. Heyer's positive impact is most felt when the freshman is aggressive with the Gophers record sitting at a perfect 6-0 when she attempts 10 or more shots.
As of Dec. 22, Minnesota's latest starting lineup of Mara Braun, Amaya Battle, Mallory Heyer, Katie Borowicz and Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux, is an average age of 19 years and 4 months and 18 days. The group consists of three true freshman, one redshirt sophomore and one sophomore with the group's first three games against Power 5 opponents. Minnesota is the only Big Ten team to start four freshmen in a game this season (Wisconsin is the only other team to start start three). The only other team to start four freshmen in the nation is Navy.
University of Minnesota women's basketball head coach Lindsay Whalen will miss the December 22 home game against Eastern Illinois with an illness. She is recovering at home and will return when she is medically cleared. Shimmy Gray-Miller will serve as Minnesota's acting head coach against Eastern Illinois. If Whalen is forced to miss any additional contests, her status will be updated accordingly.
Through 12 games this season Minnesota continues to prove itself a quality team on the boards with an average rate of 43.8 per game as a team which is No. 1 in the Big Ten conference and No. 28 in the nation. The team has been one of the best on the offensive glass at 13.7 per game, No. 3 in the Big Ten. Minnesota's perimeter defense has also been solid, ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten at 28.4 percent.
Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen 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 - Minnesota is looking for its first three-game winning streak since Nov. 12-Nov. 17, 2021.
84 - In eight home games this season the Gophers are averaging nearly 84 points per game (83.6).
1 - True freshman Amaya Battle leads all Big Ten freshmen in assists per game at 4.7.
11 - Mara Braun has made at least one 3-pointer in every game she has played in this season.
32 - Minnesota this season is 32nd in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 78.8 points per game as a team.

The University of Minnesota takes a week off before returning to Big Ten play against No. 15 Maryland. The game is scheduled for Dec. 30, at 1 p.m., and will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard on the iHeartRadio app or on KFAN+.

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

Mallory Heyer