The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (12-1, 0-1 B1G) is set to host Penn State (9-3, 0-1 B1G) in its Big Ten home opener at Williams Arena on Saturday, Dec. 28. The game is scheduled to tip at 3 p.m.
Minnesota (12-1, 0-1 B1G) vs. Penn State (9-3, 0-0 B1G)
TV: Big Ten Network (Autumn Johnson & ??)
Tip Time: 3:01 p.m. CT
Location: Williams Arena
About the Penn State Game
• Minnesota and Penn State are meeting for the 56th time, with the Nittany Lions holding a 32-24 lead in the series, dating back to 1992.
• The Gophers hold a record of 14-11 at Williams Arena against Penn State.
• Minnesota has won nine of the last 13 matchups. At Williams Arena, the Gophers have won six of the last eight.
• The Nittany Lions are 0-1 in the Big Ten this season, with their sole conference loss coming against Indiana.
• So far this season, Penn State is seated at No. 31 nationally in scoring offense and No. 13 (value: 79.9) in scoring percentage (value: 48.9). The Nittany Lions are also ranked 12th in the NCAA in assists per game (value: 19.2).
• Penn State concluded its 11-game non-conference schedule at Kansas on Dec. 15 at Allen Fieldhouse. The Nittany Lions led majority of the second half, but were overcome by a late scoring burst from the Jayhawks in the 68-65 loss.
• Despite the loss, graduate forward Tamera Johnson grabbed her 1,000th collegiate point with a layup. Redshirt sophomore tallied her 26th career double-double.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
• Head Coach Carolyn Kieger is entering her fifth season at the helm of the Penn State program, improving the win total every year since arriving as the sixth head coach in program history. Seven in 2019-20, nine in 2020-21, 11 in 2021-22, 14 in 2022-23 and 22 in 2023-24, marking the programs best single-season win total since 2013-14.
• Last season, the Nittany Lions made history securing their best record in a decade, but they also made their first postseason tournament appearance since 2018, making a run to the WBIT Final Four.
• Penn State earned its 1,000th win in program history last season.
Gopher Notables
• Minnesota bounced back last week after falling to No. 25/RV Nebraska in its Big Ten opener. The Gophers picked up wins over Jackson State (81-43) and Prairie View A&M (96-57).
• Minnesota has stayed steady in turnovers this season, ranking No. 2 in the NCAA averaging 9.2 per game. Against Prairie View A&M, the Gophers set a season low of three. The stat is also a low in the Plitzuweit Era of Golden Gopher basketball.
• Since starting, freshman Tori McKinney has hit double digit figures in seven of her last eight starts. Against Jackson State, she led Minnesota with 14 points. The freshman surpassed it and set a career high 17 points against Prairie View A&M. Defensively, McKinney had a stretch of five games with a block, (EIU-UNF).
• Mallory Heyer has been one of the hottest players on the Gophers in her last five games, scoring an average of 11.8 points and six rebounds per game. Against Nebraska, Heyer had 20 points, a season high.
• Graduate Annika Stewart hit a season high 20 points on Friday against Prairie View A&M. It marked the seventh time this season she hit double digits and the fifth time she led Minnesota in the category.
Spreading the Wealth
• It’s been a team effort through Minnesota’s first 13 games in scoring.
• The 2024-25 Golden Gophers have hit multiple scoring team records.
•The win over Prairie View A&M marked the second time this season Minnesota has scored at least 90 or more points. Annika Stewart (20), Tori McKinney (17), Mallory Heyer (15), and Amaya Battle (14) all hit double digit figures. It was the second time this season four Gophers hit double digits. Against UMass Lowell, McKenna Johnson (13), Taylor Woodson (12), Tori McKinney (11), and Sophie Hart (11) all scored in double digits.
• Against Montana, the Gophers had five score in double digits for the first time since last season – Sophie Hart (16), Grace Grocholski (14), Amaya Battle (14), McKinney (13), and Mallory Heyer (10).
• Against UNF, the Maroon and Gold had six score in double digits for the first time since Nov. 11, 2017 – Grocholski (15), Annika Stewart (15), McKinney (12), Hart (12), Battle (11), Woodson (11).
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
