Women's Hoops to Host Norfolk State on Wednesday Night

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (5-1, 0-0 B1G) will host its seventh straight home contest when Norfolk State (6-1, 0-0 MEAC) comes to Williams Arena on Nov. 29. The game, which concludes the month of November for the 'U', will be streamed on B1G+ while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will broadcast the game on KFAN+.

GAME INFORMATION
TV/Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 7:01 P.M.
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Promotions: Bring in 3 or more canned foods for any game in November and receive a discounted ticket.

ABOUT THE NORFOLK STATE GAME

Minnesota's matchup with Norfolk State is the first between the two programs. The 'U' has played three programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, holding a 2-1 overall record with wins against Coppin State and South Carolina State with one loss coming against Howard back in 1998.
Norfolk State, nicknamed the Spartans, bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 58-51 win over Colgate on Nov. 26, at the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament. The Spartans first, and only, loss of the season came against East Tennessee State University by a score of 55-35. This season Norfolk State has also picked up wins against Appalachian State (67-53), Radford (70-46) and Drexel University (51-49). Norfolk State's opponents this season have a combined record of 17-21 this season.
So far this season the Spartans have been paced offensively by Minneapolis, Minn., native Kierra Wheeler, who has averaged 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She's played in just six of the team's seven games, only missing the team's lone loss to ETSU, but then returned for the Colgate matchup where she registered 15 points and four rebounds.
Through Nov. 27, Norfolk State has held their opponents to 51.9 points per game, good enough for 22nd in the NCAA this season. They have held their opponents to 37.6 percent from the floor and have only allowed a 26.1 percent clip from beyond the arc, good enough for the best mark among MEAC teams.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Minnesota won its second straight, defeating the previously undefeated Stony Brook Seawolves (5-1, 0-0 CAA) on Nov. 26. The Gophers used an 18-0 second half run to break a 44-44 tie and went on to win 67-54 to move to 5-1, the team's best start since 2019-20. Sophie Hart and Mallory Heyer each scored 17 points while Amaya Battle registered seven points, nine assists and a career high 12 rebounds.
Minnesota's defense has been outstanding all season, holding opponents to 33 percent shooting from the floor, which leads the Big Ten and is No. 19 in the NCAA through Nov. 27. The 'U' also has one of the best scoring defenses in the country at 49.8 per game, which is the best in the conference and No. 11 nationally. Minnesota's defense has been elite while not fouling, getting called for just 11.2 fouls per game, the third fewest in the nation and the best in the Big Ten.
Sophie Hart has been one of the hottest players on the Gophers in the last two games with the junior center posting back-to-back career highs in wins over CSUN (13) and Stony Brook (17). After a perfect 6-of-6 from the field against CSUN, Hart made each of her first six shots against the Seawolves to extend her consecutive makes to 12 before she missed her first shot in the third quarter. During the two-game stretch Hart shot 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the floor and has swatted four shots, highlighted by her career high three against Stony Brook.
Williams Arena has long been known for its elevated court, but the Golden Gophers have also been steadily successful on their home court over the years, approaching a historic milestone with now 398 wins at the Barn. The 'U' has never had a losing season at home at Williams Arena in any full season since the team permanently moved to the Barn during the 2001-02 season.
Sophomore Mara Braun earned some well-deserved preseason recognition prior to the start of the 2023-24 season. The second-year Gopher was named to the watch list of the Cheryl Miller Award for the nation's top small forward as well as the Big Ten's 2023-24 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, as voted by the league's coaches. Braun was one of just two sophomores to be honored by the conference's coaches, joining Cotie McMahon of Ohio State.
On average the Maroon and Gold have outscored their opponents 21.7 to 10.8 in first quarters this season. In total the Gophers have doubled up their opponents in the opening quarter, 130-65.

BY THE NUMBERS
18 - Mara Braun has connected on at least one three in 18 consecutive games dating back to last season.
2 - Niamya Holloway is tied for No. 2 overall in the Big Ten this season in steals per game (2.5) in just 13.7 minutes per game off the bench.
6 - Minnesota has gone six straight games with less turnovers as a team than their opponents.
8 - So far this season Amaya Battle has improved her field goal percentage from 39 percent in 2022-23 to 47.7 percent in 2023-24.
22 - The 'U' has averaged 22.3 points per game off turnovers through the first six games.

The fourth week of the 2023-24 season for the 'U' will continue with Drake (5-2) on Saturday, Dec. 2. The game with the Bulldogs will cap off the eighth straight home game to start the season with the team's first road game on the horizon on Dec. 6, at Kentucky. Additionally, the Drake game will serve as the team's Special Olympics of Minnesota Day Presented by Affinity Plus. For more information on promotions for each and every game this season, please click here.

Fans interested in buying season tickets for Gopher women's basketball this season can find more information at https://z.umn.edu/24sznTix or by calling the Minnesota Ticket Sales Office by phone at 1-800-U-GOPHER or by email at gophersports@umn.edu.

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 (X.com), Instagram (@GopherWBB) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2023-24 season.

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Amaya Battle

Mara Braun

Sophie Hart

Mallory Heyer

Niamya Holloway