Gophers and Scarlet Knights Set for Clash on Big Ten Network

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (8-8, 1-4 B1G) is back in action at Williams Arena against Rutgers (7-10, 1-4 B1G) on Thursday night on the Big Ten Network. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. and can also be heard on the iHeartRadio app or on KFAN+ with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.

ABOUT THE RUTGERS GAME

Minnesota's matchup with Rutgers is the 13th matchup between the two programs all-time. Last season the Scarlet Knights and Gophers split their games, with both teams winning on the road. The last matchup was on Feb. 17, 2022, when Rutgers won 79-61 at Williams Arena.
Minnesota is 5-7 all-time against Rutgers.
Neither the Gophers and Scarlet Knights have won consecutive games against one another since the Gophers won two straight in games in 2016 and 2017.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 57-45 win over Nebraska at home on Jan. 7. That win snapped a two-game losing streak with losses to Penn State and Maryland prior to the win over the Cornhuskers.
Rutgers has faced three common opponents with the Gophers. Rutgers is 0-3 against those opponents while Minnesota is 1-2.
Individually freshman Kaylene Smikle is leading the Scarlet Knights at 16.7 points per game this season. She has scored in double figures in five straight games and in 13 of her 17 games played in this season.
Rutgers has just eight players that have played in games this season. All eight players average over 2.4 points per game this season with two in double figures with Smirkle and Awa Sidibe (10.4).

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last time out the Maroon and Gold dropped its second straight game, this time coming against their rival Wisconsin in Madison. In a back-and-forth game, the Gophers trailed by as much as 14 before tying the game going into the fourth quarter. Wisconsin made clutch shots down the stretch, and came away with the 81-77 win at the Kohl Center. Freshman forward Mallory Heyer posted her second straight double double with 13 points and 14 rebounds while Katie Borowicz and Amaya Battle each scored 17 points in the loss.
Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux extended her double figures scoring streak to six games in the loss to Wisconsin. The sophomore has turned up her efficiency, scoring 14.7 points per game while shooting 54.4 percent (37-of-68) from the floor in that span. She's also averaged 6.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 offensive rebounds in that stretch.
As of Jan. 11, 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 5 months. The group consists of three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman and one sophomore. Minnesota is the only Big Ten team to start four freshmen in a game this season (Wisconsin is the only other team to start three). The only other team to start four freshmen in the nation is Navy.
Mallory Heyer has posted back-to-back double doubles with impressive performances against No. 3/3 Ohio State and Wisconsin. Heyer's four double doubles as a freshman are the most since Destiny Pitts had six during her freshman campaign in 2017-18. She's been on a tear in the last month with an average of 12.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds during that span. Heyer has also hit at least one three in 10 straight games, the second longest streak by any Gopher this season (Braun - 11 games).
Freshman guard Amaya Battle continues to show why she is one of the most versatile young guards in the country with her play. Battle has shot 48.3 percent (42-of-87) from the floor in her last nine games, up from 36.0 percent in her first seven games. As of Jan. 11, Battle is 13th overall in the Big Ten in rebounding per game (6.7) and is the No. 2 freshman in the conference in rebounding. She's sixth in assists per game (4.5) in the Big Ten, and is the No. 1 freshman, and is ninth overall in blocks per game (1.0), all while averaging 13.8 points per game during conference play.
Lindsay Whalen announced on Jan. 6, the signing of center Sophie Hart to the Gophers' program. Hart is a 6-5 graduate of Farmington High School, who played two seasons at NC State, and will join Minnesota with two years of eligibility. Coming out of high school Hart was the No. 64 ranked overall recruit in the class of 2021 and the No. 5 ranked player at her position by ESPN.
Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen announced the addition of five student-athletes on Nov. 16, who 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
1 - Minnesota is No. 1 in the Big Ten in rebounds per game this season at 43.6.
80 - Minnesota averages nearly 80 points per game at home (77.9) this season.
2 - Both the Gophers and Scarlet Knights leading scorers this season are both true freshmen.
10 - Mallory Heyer has made at least one three in 10 consecutive games.
51 - This season Minnesota gets 51 points per game from freshmen or redshirt freshmen.

The University of Minnesota remains at home for a weekend matchup with No. 24 Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 15. The game can be seen on B1G+ and will tip at 2 p.m. and can be heard on the iHeartRadio app and 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