Gophers to Play Badgers in Play 4 Kay Game on Saturday

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota (9-15, 2-11 B1G) is scheduled to host the latest edition of the Border Battle when Wisconsin (7-18, 2-11 B1G) comes to Williams Arena on Saturday afternoon. The rematch against the Badgers is scheduled for a 3 p.m. tip on B1G+ and can be heard on the iHeartRadio app or on KFAN+ with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.

ABOUT THE WISCONSIN GAME

Minnesota's matchup with Wisconsin is the second time the two teams will face off this season. The first meeting on Jan. 8, ended in a 81-77 victory for the host Badgers at the Kohl Center. In that game Amaya Battle led the Gophers with 17 points, eight rebounds and four asssits while Mallory Heyer notched a 13-point, 14-rebound double double. Entering the game tied 62-62 the Badgers out scored the Gophers 19-15 in the final 10 minutes to claim the victory.
Minnesota is 47-37 overall against the Badgers.
Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley is familiar to Minnesota as she previously served as an assistant for the Golden Gophers from 2007-09 under then head coach Pam Borton. In two seasons the Gophers were 40-24 and 22-14 in the Big Ten, making the NCAA Tournament both years and winning a tournament game in 2009.
The Gophers last loss to the Badgers in Minneapolis was on Jan. 22, 2020, by a score of 72-62.
The Badgers are losers of their last four games which have been against Michigan State, Rutgers, Ohio State and Northwestern.
Wisconsin is 1-8 against common opponents this season with the Gophers.
Wisconsin was not selected in either the media or coaches preseason Big Ten polls.
Individually freshman Serah Williams leads the team in scoring at 13.5 per game while also averaging 5.3 rebounds and shooting 55.8 percent from the floor.
Wisconsin has five players who average double figures this season with Williams, Julie Pospisilova, Avery LaBarbera, Maty Wilke and Brooke Schramek.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last time out the Maroon and Gold dropped its fifth straight game with the latest being a 93-63 loss by the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State jumped on the Golden Gophers early, scoring 21 of the gam'es first 25 points to lead 21-4 with 3:19 remaining in the opening quarter. Minnesota got the lead down to 23-10 after the first 10 minutes of play. Minnesota was unable to overcome the deficit the rest of the game and dropped to 1-8 on the road this season. Mara Braun was the leader on the offensive end scoring 19 points while hitting three triples for the third straight game.
Despite just eight points and four boards against the Buckeyes Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux has been one of the most consistent players in the conference this season. She's scored in double figures 12 times in the last 14 games. She's the Big Ten leader in offensive rebounds per game at 3.3 and has averaged 11 rebounds per game in her last nine contests all against Big Ten opponents.
Through 24 games Minnesota has proved to be the best all-around rebounding team in the Big Ten conference. The Gophers are No. 2 in total rebounds in conference games (40.8 per game) and are No. 1 overall this season (42.3 per game). The team is also No. 2 in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game overall this season at 13.8 and is No. 1 during conference play at 13.3 per game.
Freshman Mara Braun has returned as a consistent scorer for the Gophers, scoring in double figures in five of her last six games. Braun has connected on at least one three in six straight games and has shot 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from beyond the arc in her last four games.
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
9.7 - Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux has improved her points per game average by 10 from last season (4.7 to 14.4).
3 - Mara Braun has hit three triples in three straight games.
99 - Freshman guard Amaya Battle is at 99 assists this season and is just 7 assists away from the Gophers' freshman single-season record.
1 - Mallory Heyer is the No. 1 rebounding freshman in the Big Ten this season at 6.9 per game.
19 - This season Minnesota has won the opening tip 19 times.

The University of Minnesota is back in action at home on Feb. 15, against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. That game will begin at 7 p.m. on B1G+.

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

Sophie Hart

Mallory Heyer