University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 19
Evanston, IL
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
‘U’ Continues Road Action at Northwestern
1/18/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota and Northwestern will meet for the 80th time
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 24/25 University of Minnesota women's basketball team (16-2, 4-2 B1G) continues its Big Ten schedule on the road this weekend at Northwestern (7-9, 0-5 B1G). The Golden Gophers and Wildcats will tip off on Sunday, January 19 at 2 p.m. CT at Welsh Ryan Arena. The game can be livestreamed on B1G+ while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will broadcast the game on KFAN+.
No. 24/25 Minnesota (16-2, 4-2 B1G) vs. Northwestern (7-9, 0-5 B1G)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 2:01 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Welsh Ryan Arena
About the Northwestern Game
• Minnesota and Northwestern are meeting for the 80th time, with the Wildcats holding a 40-39 advantage in the series that began in 1977. Minnesota won their only meeting last season, 88-63, its first victory over Northwestern since 2022.
• As a team, Northwestern ranks fourth in the Big Ten in total assists (291) and assists per game (18.2).
• Northwestern is one of five Big Ten teams still seeking their first conference win, joining Purdue (0-5), Penn State (0-6), and Rutgers (0-6).
• The Wildcats are led offensively by Melanie Daley, who is averaging 11.2 points per game. She is Northwestern's leading scorer with 179 points this season and has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
• Caileigh Walsh is averaging 11.3 points per game. She had a team-high seven rebounds against No. 9/8 Ohio State.
• Grace Sullivan (.518) and Kyla Jones (.504) are both shooting over 50% this season. Jones posted a team-high 15 points in a 92-62 loss to the Buckeyes, marking the third time this season she set a team scoring high.
Gopher Notables
• Minnesota set a program record with 12 non-conference wins, surpassing the previous high of 11 set in seven different seasons, most recently in 2018-19.
• The Gophers are 11-0 at home this season, marking their longest home undefeated streak since 2018-19.
• Minnesota's 16-2 start is one of the best in program history. They previously started 15-2 at home to begin the seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
• The Gophers appeared in both major polls this week, earning a No. 25 ranking in the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Poll. It is the first time Minnesota has appeared in both polls since 2019.
• Minnesota dropped its second conference game on Tuesday, falling 92-99 to No. 8/7 Maryland in College Park, Md., at the XFINITY Center. Four Gophers reached double digits, including Amaya Battle (19), Grace Grocholski (16), Mallory Heyer (15), and Sophie Hart (14).
• Maryland held a 20-point lead with 2:49 left in the fourth quarter, but a 16-2 Minnesota run in 2:30 cut the lead to three with 20 seconds remaining. The Terrapins sealed the win with two free throws.
• Battle's 19 points marked the sixth consecutive game she scored in double figures, matching the longest streak of her career. She also had a six-game streak last season (March 6-April 3).
• Hart has scored a combined 43 points in Minnesota's last four games. She has reached double digits in three of those four games, including her second career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) against Illinois.
• The Gophers continue to rank highly in several national and conference statistics: No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 4 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (308 assists, 174 turnovers), No. 9 in the country and No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring defense (53.4 points per game), and No. 1 in both the NCAA and Big Ten in fewest turnovers per game (9.7).
Getting it Done on the Court AND in the Classroom
The University of Minnesota women's basketball program announced another academic achievement on Tuesday, as the Gophers finished the fall semester with a team GPA of 3.49. Amaya Battle, Grace Grocholski, Mara Braun, and Jordan Brooks were named to the 2024 Fall Semester Dean's List, while Annika Stewart, Grocholski, and Alexsia Rose earned perfect 4.0 GPAs.
By the Numbers
800: Minnesota is 10 wins away from a program record 800 wins
400: Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit secured her 400th career win over Big Ten opponent Illinois
26: The Gophers' NET ranking is No. 26, marking the highest NET ranking in program history.
25: The Maroon & Gold were ranked No. 25 in this week's USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll. It's Minnesota's first appearance in the poll since Jan. 15, 2019. Minnesota was ranked No. 25.
24: The Gophers were ranked No. 24 in this week's AP Poll. They were one of five other Big Ten teams who appeared in the rankings including, No. 1 UCLA, No. 4 USC, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Ohio State, and No. 22 Michigan State.
No. 24/25 Minnesota (16-2, 4-2 B1G) vs. Northwestern (7-9, 0-5 B1G)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 2:01 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Welsh Ryan Arena
About the Northwestern Game
• Minnesota and Northwestern are meeting for the 80th time, with the Wildcats holding a 40-39 advantage in the series that began in 1977. Minnesota won their only meeting last season, 88-63, its first victory over Northwestern since 2022.
• As a team, Northwestern ranks fourth in the Big Ten in total assists (291) and assists per game (18.2).
• Northwestern is one of five Big Ten teams still seeking their first conference win, joining Purdue (0-5), Penn State (0-6), and Rutgers (0-6).
• The Wildcats are led offensively by Melanie Daley, who is averaging 11.2 points per game. She is Northwestern's leading scorer with 179 points this season and has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
• Caileigh Walsh is averaging 11.3 points per game. She had a team-high seven rebounds against No. 9/8 Ohio State.
• Grace Sullivan (.518) and Kyla Jones (.504) are both shooting over 50% this season. Jones posted a team-high 15 points in a 92-62 loss to the Buckeyes, marking the third time this season she set a team scoring high.
Gopher Notables
• Minnesota set a program record with 12 non-conference wins, surpassing the previous high of 11 set in seven different seasons, most recently in 2018-19.
• The Gophers are 11-0 at home this season, marking their longest home undefeated streak since 2018-19.
• Minnesota's 16-2 start is one of the best in program history. They previously started 15-2 at home to begin the seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
• The Gophers appeared in both major polls this week, earning a No. 25 ranking in the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Poll. It is the first time Minnesota has appeared in both polls since 2019.
• Minnesota dropped its second conference game on Tuesday, falling 92-99 to No. 8/7 Maryland in College Park, Md., at the XFINITY Center. Four Gophers reached double digits, including Amaya Battle (19), Grace Grocholski (16), Mallory Heyer (15), and Sophie Hart (14).
• Maryland held a 20-point lead with 2:49 left in the fourth quarter, but a 16-2 Minnesota run in 2:30 cut the lead to three with 20 seconds remaining. The Terrapins sealed the win with two free throws.
• Battle's 19 points marked the sixth consecutive game she scored in double figures, matching the longest streak of her career. She also had a six-game streak last season (March 6-April 3).
• Hart has scored a combined 43 points in Minnesota's last four games. She has reached double digits in three of those four games, including her second career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) against Illinois.
• The Gophers continue to rank highly in several national and conference statistics: No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 4 in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (308 assists, 174 turnovers), No. 9 in the country and No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring defense (53.4 points per game), and No. 1 in both the NCAA and Big Ten in fewest turnovers per game (9.7).
Getting it Done on the Court AND in the Classroom
The University of Minnesota women's basketball program announced another academic achievement on Tuesday, as the Gophers finished the fall semester with a team GPA of 3.49. Amaya Battle, Grace Grocholski, Mara Braun, and Jordan Brooks were named to the 2024 Fall Semester Dean's List, while Annika Stewart, Grocholski, and Alexsia Rose earned perfect 4.0 GPAs.
By the Numbers
800: Minnesota is 10 wins away from a program record 800 wins
400: Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit secured her 400th career win over Big Ten opponent Illinois
26: The Gophers' NET ranking is No. 26, marking the highest NET ranking in program history.
25: The Maroon & Gold were ranked No. 25 in this week's USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll. It's Minnesota's first appearance in the poll since Jan. 15, 2019. Minnesota was ranked No. 25.
24: The Gophers were ranked No. 24 in this week's AP Poll. They were one of five other Big Ten teams who appeared in the rankings including, No. 1 UCLA, No. 4 USC, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Ohio State, and No. 22 Michigan State.
Highlights: Gophers 87, Penn State 66
Wednesday, January 28
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Badgers
Tuesday, January 27
Postgame Reaction: Gophers-Badgers
Sunday, January 25
Highlights: Gophers 88, Wisconsin 53
Sunday, January 25