The No. 24 AP ranked University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (16-1, 4-1 B1G) will face No. 8/7 Maryland (15-1, 5-1 B1G) on Tuesday evening at the Xfinity Center. The 6 p.m. CT tip will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will be live on the call on KFAN+.
No. 24/RV Minnesota (16-1, 4-1) vs. No. 8/7 Maryland (15-1, 5-1 B1G)
Tip Time: 6:01 p.m. CT
Location: XFINITY Center
About the Maryland Game
• RV/RV Minnesota and No. 8/7 Maryland are clashing for the 16th time on Jan. 14, with the Terrapins holding a 14-1 advantage in the series. The Golden Gophers’ only win came on Feb. 18, 2018.
• Last season, Minnesota dropped its seventh-straight contest against Maryland 72-64. Mara Braun had 20 points while Sophie Hart had 13 and Grace Grocholski had 12.
• This season, Maryland comes into the match up with a 15-1 record and 5-1 mark in conference play. The Terrapins are coming off a 83-68 win over Wisconsin on the road.
• Last week, Maryland dropped its first loss of the season to No. 4/5 USC 79-74 at the XFINITY Center. The loss snapped the Terrapins 14-game win streak. Shyanne Sellers led Maryland with 26 points.
• Kaylene Smikle has scored in double figures in 15-straight games while Sellers has scored in double figures in 12-straight.
• The Terrapins are ranked No. 4 in the country in rebound margin (13.7), No. 3 in free throws per game (17.75), and No. 7 in rebounds per game (44.94).
• Maryland head coach Brenda Frese spent one season at Minnesota as head coach from 2001-02.
Gopher Notables
• Minnesota set a new program record with 12 non-conference wins. The Gophers have only ever set 11 during seven different seasons and most recently in 2018-19.
• The Gophers are 11-0 at home so far this season. It marks the longest home undefeated streak since 2018-19.
• Minnesota is off to its best 17-game start in program history with a 16-1 record this season. The Gophers came close twice posting 15-2 marks to begin a season during 2002-03 and 2003-04.
• With the win over Rutgers, Minnesota is now 4-1 in the conference and fifth in Big Ten standings. The conference record is their best since 2014-15, when the Gophers went 5-1 until losing to Purdue in overtime.
• Amaya Battle scored 21 points against the Scarlet Knights, matching her season high that she set against Vermont. Battle has scored in double digits the last five games, marking her second longest streak in her career. Last season, Battle had a six game streak scoring in double figures (March 6-April 3).
• Sophie Hart grabbed her second career double-double on Wednesday with 14 points and a game, season, and career high 11 total rebounds. Hart is averaging 7.8 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game this season with 17 starts.
• Freshman McKenna Johnson came off the bench against Rutgers and scored a career high 15 points. It marks the second time this season the guard has subbed into the game and scored in double digits. Johnson had 13 in Minnesota’s win over UMass Lowell.
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
29: The Gophers’ NET ranking is No. 29. Minnesota also received votes in both major polls last week.
5: Minnesota is placed fifth in the Big Ten with a 4-1 record behind Ohio State, UCLA, USC, and Maryland.
3: As a team the Maroon & Gold are ranked at No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.8) and scoring defense (50.8 points per game)
1: Minnesota is seated at No. 1 in the country and Big Ten in fewest turnovers, averaging 9.5 per game.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
