The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (15-1, 3-1 B1G) welcomes the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-7, 0-4 B1G) on Wednesday at Williams Arena.
Minnesota (15-1, 3-1 B1G) vs.Rutgers (8-7, 0-4 B1G)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m. CT
Location: Williams Arena
About the Rutgers Game
• Minnesota and Rutgers are meeting for the 18th time, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 9-6 advantage in the series that dates back to 1982. The Golden Gophers are 4-2 at The Barn over the East Coast foe.
• Last season, the teams met twice – once in conference play and once at the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.
• Last season in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, Amaya Battle dropped a Big Ten Tournament record 32 points in the 77-69 win at the Target Center.
• Battle’s 32 points eclipsed Gadiva Hubbard (2017) and Jamie Broback (2005) for the most points by a Gopher in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Scarlet Knights are 0-4 in conference play, dropping contests to Wisconsin, No. 10/9 Ohio State, No. 8/7 Maryland, and No. 4/5 USC.
• Jojo Lacey is the lone Scarlet Knight to start all 15 games this season. Lacey led Rutgers against No. 4/5 USC with 14 points, she also tallied four rebounds and one block.
• Destiny Adams is second overall in points per game, averaging 17.5, along with a team high 10.1 rebounds per game. Adams also leads Rutgers in steals (32) and blocks (15). Adams is third in the conference in steals.
• Adams earned the first Big Ten Player of the Week (Nov. 11) honor of her career in addition to being selected as one of the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week and an AP Player of the Week Honorable Mention.
• The Scarlet Knights are led by freshman Kiyomi McMiller, averaging 19.9 points per game. Against No. 4/5 USC, McMiller was made unavailable to play.
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.
• It’s the first time the Maroon & Gold are 15-1 since 2003-04. 21 seasons ago, Minnesota reached the Final Four in New Orleans for the first time in program history.
• The Gophers are 10-0 at home so far this season. It marks the longest home undefeated streak since 2018-19.
• This week’s AP Poll was released on Monday, with Minnesota receiving seven votes. The Gophers have not been ranked in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll since the 2018-19 season. The last time Minnesota was ranked in the AP Poll was Dec. 30, 2019 at No. 24 and the Coaches Poll on Jan. 15, 2019 at No. 25.
• After defeating Illinois 68-61, who was receiving votes in both top 25 polls, Minnesota reached its highest NET ranking ever at No. 28.
400 Career Wins
• Thanks to Minnesota’s epic fourth quarter rally-from-behind-victory, Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit secured her 400th career win.
• During her 18 seasons as a head coach, she has now amassed an impressive 400-158 record and a .717 winning percentage.
• Prior to her time at the helm of Minnesota’s program, Plitzuweit made stops at Grand Valley State, Northern Kentucky, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
• Under her direction, the Lakers earned four postseason berths, including an NCAA Division II National Championship title in 2005-06. Plitzuweit compiled a 117-39 (.750) record, including a 68-22 (.756) mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
• During her tenure at South Dakota, she amassed a 158-36 record, including an 83-10 mark in the Summit League. The three-time Summit League Coach of the Year, Plitzuweit led the Coyotes to three regular-season championships, three conference tournament championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and a berth in the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16 during her timeUSD.
• She also was an assistant coach at Michigan (2007-12), Green Bay (1998-02), Wisconsin (1997-98) and her alma mater Michigan Tech (1995-97). She holds the Summit League record for overall winning percentage (.814) and conference winning percentage (.892).
B1G Win
• The Gophers grabbed their third-straight conference victory on Sunday in a 68-61 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini.
• Minnesota fought back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter and now sits at fifth in the Big Ten behind UCLA (No. 1), Maryland (No. 2), USC (No. 3), and Ohio State (No. 4).
• Mallory Heyer grabbed her 12th career double double with 10 points and team high 10 boards.
• Grace Grocholski had a season high 19 points against Illinois. Seven points came in the fourth, five were free throws. She went 5-6 from the line in the fourth quarter.
• Grocholski totaled 24 career games with double figure scoring. Minnesota is 15-9 when she hits double digits.
• Five players scored in double figures, besides Heyer and Grocholski, Annika StewartTori McKinney, and Amaya Battle tacked on 11 points each. It marks the second time this season Minnesota has had five Gophers score in double digits (Montana, 11/24/24).
Stat Check
• With four-straight wins heading into Wednesday night’s game, Minnesota is seated on the national stage in multiple stat categories.
• The Gophers are ranked fourth in the country and first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio.
• The Maroon & Gold’s scoring defense is best in the conference and good enough for third in the NCAA. Allowing an average of 50.8 opponent points per game.
• Minnesota sits at second in the country and first in the Big Ten in fewest turnovers as a team. They’re averaging 9.4 per game and matched a program record low of three against Prairie View A&M on Dec. 20, 2024.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
