WNIT 'Fab 4' Sees Gophers Visit Troy

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team makes its first ever 'Fab 4' appearance in the WNIT as it takes on Troy (22-11, 15-3 Sun Belt) on April 3 in Troy, Ala., at Trojan Arena. The winner will face either Vermont or St. Louis for the WNIT championship on April 6. Wednesday night's game will be Minnesota's second-ever trip to Troy and will be broadcast on ESPN+, while Tanner Hoops and Lynnette Sjoquist will provide radio coverage on Hot 102.5 FM.

GAME INFORMATION
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Tip Time: 6 p.m. CT
Radio: Hot 102.5 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Tanner Hoops and Lynnette Sjoquist)

ABOUT THE TROY GAME

Minnesota and Troy have not met since 1999 when the Gophers went into Trojan Arena and emerged with a 66-56 victory in the only prior meeting between the schools. Three Gophers reached double figures in that contest, led by Cassie VanderHeyden's 20 points, while Erin Olson posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.
This season Troy took on three 'Power 5' programs and finished 0-3 in those contests, losing on the road at then-No. 15 Tennessee, 100-73, on Nov. 19, at Georgia, 86-70, on Dec. 6 and at Iowa State, 105-68, on Dec. 17. Troy also took on NCAA Tournament-team UT Martin and beat the Skyhawks on Dec. 9, 71-59.
Individually the Trojans have been paced this season by a pair of 15-point scorers in Ja'Mia Hollings (15.5 PPG) and Makayia Hallmon (15.2)., who were named Second Team and Third Team All-Sun Belt, respectively. Hollings leads also leads the team and the conference with 9.2 rebounds per game. Tai'Sheka Porchia earned First Team All-SBC honors as she has posted 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest, including 4.1 boards on the offensive glass which leads the SBC and ranks 16th in the country.
As a team, Troy leads the nation with its 47.8 rebounds per game and the Trojans are second in the country with 16.9 offensive rebounds per contest. The team's 30.9 defensive rebound average is seventh best in Division I. The Trojans' scoring average of 81.2 points per game ranks 10th in the country, though they yield 75.1 points to opponents to rank 335th nationally in opponent scoring.
Minnesota graduate senior Janay Sanders and Troy senior Nia Daniel are both from Charlotte, N.C. Sanders attended Mallard Creek High School, while Daniel went to Hickory Ridge, which are about 20 minutes away from one another.
This is the Trojans' third trip to the WNIT in program history and their seventh postseason appearance overall. Troy entered this year's tournament 0-7 all-time in postseason play, but has since posted wins over FIU (92-62), North Carolina A&T (89-75) and ULM (89-75) to earn the Fab 4 matchup with Minnesota.

GOPHER NOTABLES

Minnesota beat Wyoming 65-54 on the road April 1 to advance to the Fab 4 of the WNIT. Amaya Battle scored 29 points, while Sophie Hart chipped in 14, Mallory Heyer had eight points and nine rebounds and Grace Grocholski added a career-high 11 rebounds. The game was tied 40-40 before Minnesota outscored Wyoming 25-14 in the fourth quarter. Minnesota held Wyoming to only 39.6 percent shooting from the field, including 21.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Gophers limited Wyoming to only two offensive rebounds while collecting 32 defensive rebounds.
Amaya Battle and Sophie Hart of the University of Minnesota women's basketball team earned a spot on the 2023-24 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team, it was announced Tuesday. To be eligible for the award, nominees must have a 3.5 GPA and completed one full calendar year at their current institution and is at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must also be a starter or important to the team and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests. Battle and Hart now both advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot.
Minnesota collected three All-Big Ten Awards at the end of the regular season, as voted on the league's coaches and members of the media. Both Braun and Battle earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nods while freshman Grace Grocholski earned Big Ten All-Freshman laurels. Junior Maggie Czinano was also named the team's representative for the Sportsmanship Award.
For the first time in seven appearances in the WNIT the Golden Gophers are in the 'Fab 4'. Prior to 2024 Minnesota's best finish in the WNIT was in the 'Super 16' back in 2014. Minnesota is now 9-6 all-time in the WNIT. The most points scored in a WNIT game in program history was 48 points by Rachel Banham vs. Milwaukee in 2016.
This season Grocholski has played an average of 34.1 minutes per game as a true freshman, the second most per game in program history only behind Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen's 35.8 in 2000-01.
During the season Minnesota took on 10 teams that reached the NCAA Tournament, picking up wins against five of those teams, including No. 6 seed, and Big Ten Tournament runner-up, Nebraska.

BY THE NUMBERS
3 - In three WNIT games, redshirt freshman Niamya Holloway has averaged 6.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor in 20.1 minutes per game.
5 - Maggie Czinano has posted five two-steal performances in her last eight games.
9 - With four assists at Wyoming, Amaya Battle took over sole possession of ninth in assists all-time at Minnesota.
11 - Grace Grocholski pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds in Monday night's 'Great 8' win at Wyoming.
48 - Rachel Banham holds the program record for points in a single WNIT game with 48 back in 2016 against Milwaukee.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Amaya Battle

Maggie Czinano

Grace Grocholski

Sophie Hart

Mallory Heyer

Niamya Holloway

Janay Sanders