Gophers Big Ten Tournament Run Begins Wednesday

MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 12-seed University of Minnesota (11-18, 4-14 B1G) women's basketball team will play in the first game against No. 13-seeded Penn State (13-16, 4-14) at the 2023 Big Ten Tournament hosted at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The third meeting this season between the Gophers and Nittany Lions will tip off at 1 p.m. on Big Ten Network and can be heard on the iHeartRadio app or on KFAN+.

ABOUT THE PENN STATE GAME

Minnesota's matchup with Penn State is the 54th in the all-time series between the two programs. This season the Maroon and Gold have swept Penn State, winning 98-96 in double overtime at home in the Big Ten opener on Dec. 3, and winning in State College, Pa., 75-67 on Jan. 18.
Minnesota is 24-29 all-time against Penn State.
Minnesota swept the regular season series with the Nittany Lions and in those two games the Gophers overcame 26.5 turnovers per contest to win those games. The Gophers are the only Big Ten team to overcome 26 turnovers twice to win any conference game this season.
The Nittany Lions are losers of their past six contests and have not won since Feb. 2. Away from State College, Penn State holds a record of 0-10 this season.
In two games against the Gophers Makenna Marisa has averaged 29.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent from both the floor and beyond the arc.
The Nittany Lions have three that average in double figures led by 17.3 by Marisa followed by freshman Shay Ciezki at 11.6 and Leilani Kapinus at 11.1.
As a team Penn State is No. 2 in the conference in steals per game at 11.1, which is No. 13 in the NCAA. The team also is sixth in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game at 11.5.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Last time out the Maroon and Gold capped off their home regular season schedule with the team's biggest win of the season over Purdue (18-9, 9-8 B1G). The Boilermakers entered the game with a NET ranking of 42, giving Minnesota its second top 50 NET win in its last two home games (Nebraska - 2/15). The win propelled the Gophers' home record to 9-8, giving head coach Lindsay Whalen her fourth winning record at home in her first four full seasons as head coach (not including shortened 2020-21 season).
The Big Ten Conference announced on Feb. 28, that Minnesota's Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team while guard Mara Braun was named to the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team. Additionally graduate student Isabelle Gradwell was honored as the team's representative on the All-Sportsmanship team.
Last time out the Maroon and Gold capped off their home regular season schedule with the team's biggest win of the season over Purdue (18-9, 9-8 B1G). The Boilermakers entered the game with a NET ranking of 42, giving Minnesota its second top 50 NET win in its last two home games (Nebraska - 2/15). The win propelled the Gophers' home record to 9-8, giving head coach Lindsay Whalen her fourth winning record at home in her first four full seasons as head coach (not including shortened 2020-21 season).
Minnesota's freshmen have garnered much attention this season and they have not disappointed. As a group (Min. 10 games played) the Gophers freshmen and redshirt freshmen average 43.6 points per game, the most in the NCAA among freshmen classes (as of Feb. 27). The second most in the country this season is Texas Southern (40.5) and the next closest Power 5 program is UCLA (37.8).
For the first time this season the Gophers bench scored 23 or more points for four straight games. Minnesota got 33 points from the bench against Purdue (2/26) and the reserves have scored an average of 30 points per game in the last four games, up from 8.5 in their previous nine contests. Minnesota's 37 bench points against Nebraska (2/15) were the most against a Big Ten opponent since the team had 41 against Maryland on March 3, 2017.
Freshman Mara Braun has returned as a consistent scorer for the Gophers, scoring in double figures in 10 of her last 11 games after three straight Big Ten games below 10 points. Braun has connected on at least one three in 11 straight games and has shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from beyond the arc in her last eight games while averaging 16.5 points per game.
Minnesota signee Dominika Paurová was called up to the Czech Republic Senior National Team for the countries EuroBasket Qualifiers last week. Paurová made her debut against Ireland and helped the team qualify for the tournament later this year.

BY THE NUMBERS
500 - The Golden Gophers are 2-2 (.500) against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament.
11 - Mara Braun has hit at least one three in 11 straight games.
125 - Freshman guard Amaya Battle has 125 assists this season, a single-season record for freshmen at Minnesota.
11 - The Gophers have played in 11 games decided by six points or less this season.
23 - This season Minnesota has won the opening tip 23 times.

The University of Minnesota begins post season play at the 2023 Big Ten Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis, on March 1. The winner of the Minnestoa-Penn State game will play the No. 5 seed Michigan on Thursday afternoon at Target Center.

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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Amaya Battle

Mara Braun

Isabelle Gradwell