The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (13-1, 1-1 B1G) continues conference play on the road at Wisconsin (10-3, 1-1 B1G) on Tuesday. Tip off is set for 3:30 p.m.
Minnesota (13-1, 1-1 B1G) vs. Wisconsin (10-3, 1-1 B1G)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Kohl Center
About the Wisconsin Game
• Minnesota and Wisconsin are meeting for the 88th time, with the Gophers holding a 47-40 advantage in the series dating back to 1974. The Badgers have won the last four meetings.
• Wisconsin is off to a 10-3 start, their best start since the 2009-10 season when the Badgers opened with a 11-2 mark.
• Last week, the Badgers opened up Big Ten play with a 66-64 win over Rutgers. The win marked their first season opener win since 2015-16.
• Wisconsin is paced offensively by Serah Williams, who is averaging 19.5 points per game and 12.2 rebounds. She’s shot .536 from the floor and has hit 1-of-10 from beyond the arc.
• As of Dec. 28, Serah Williams is ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in blocks with 46 and in blocks per game, averaging 3.83.
Gopher Notables
• The Gophers are off to their best start to a season at 13-1 since the 2018-19 season, when they had a 12-1 start.
• Minnesota stayed in the win column on Saturday afternoon at Williams Arena with a 90-54 win over Penn State in its Big Ten Home Opener. Freshman Tori McKinney had a career high 25 points and led the way. The game marked the eighth time in the last nine games McKinney has hit double digit figures. She set her career high points in a game against Prairie View A&M with 17 and then set a new record against Penn State.
• The Maroon and Gold’s win over the Nittany Lions was their largest win margin in a Big Ten Home Opener since 2011-12 when Minnesota beat Indiana 84-43. The win was also the largest conference win in the Dawn Plitzuweit era.
• Junior Mallory Heyer had 11 points, hitting double digits for the fifth time in her last six games including a season high 20 against Louisiana. In her last six appearances, she’s had 70 total points and leads the Gophers with 34 boards.
• The Maroon and Gold stayed steady on defense, holding Penn State to multiple game lows. Including points (54), field goals made (20), field goal percentage (.385), and field goal attempts (52).
Graduate Annika Stewart has continued to excel coming off the bench for the Gophers. Following the win over Penn State, she’s averaging 11.9 points per game and three rebounds. Against the Nittany Lions, Stewart had 15 points marking the eighth time this season she’s been in double figures.
• Junior Amaya Battle had 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and two steals on Sunday. Battle is averaging 4.5 assists per game and has had three games this season with at least seven. Against Montana, she set a season high eight assists.
Spreading the Wealth
• The win over Penn State marked the third time this season Minnesota has scored at least 90 or more points.
• Tori McKinney (25), Amaya Battle (17), Annika Stewart (15), and Mallory Heyer (11) hit double digit figures. It was the third time this season four Gophers hit double digits in a game. Minnesota hit the same record against both Prairie View A&M and UMass Lowell.
• 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 – Grace Grocholski (15), Annika Stewart (15), Tori McKinney (12), Hart (12), Amaya Battle (11), Taylor Woodson (11).
Record Book Watch
• Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit is two wins shy of a milestone: 400 career wins. Her overall record as a head coach sits at 398-158 and her record in her second season at the helm of Minnesota’s program is 33-17.
• Amaya Battle and Mallory Heyer have the potential to hit 1,000 career points this season. Battle sits at 825 and Heyer is at 747.
• With nine starts and 14 appearances under her belt, Tori McKinney is eyeing Minnesota freshman season records. She’s .505 from the floor after 95 field goal attempts, needing only five more shots to earn a spot in the books. The average places her at No. 4 all-time in freshman season records, surpassing Laura Coenen (1981-82) and Theresa LeCuyer (1997-98).
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
