University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, December 21
Des Moines, IA
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Drake
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Minnesota Hits the Road to Face Drake on Sunday
12/20/2025 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gophers and Bulldogs will tip off at 2pm on Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gopher women's basketball team (8-3, 0-1 Big Ten) hits the road against the Drake Bulldogs (2-8, 1-0 Missouri Valley). Tip off is set for 2 p.m. CT on Sunday and can be streamed live on ESPN+ with Larry Morgan and Laura Leonard. Fans can listen live on KFAN+ with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.
Minnesota (8-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at Drake (2-8, 1-0 Missouri Valley)
Stream: ESPN+ (Larry Morgan and Laura Leonard)
Tip Time: 2 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Knapp Center (Des Moines, Iowa)
Minnesota (8-3, 0-1 Big Ten) at Drake (2-8, 1-0 Missouri Valley)
Stream: ESPN+ (Larry Morgan and Laura Leonard)
Tip Time: 2 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Knapp Center (Des Moines, Iowa)
STARTING FIVE
- The Golden Gophers came in at No. 16 in this week's NET rankings. Minnesota is one of nine Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25.
- Mara Braun and Grace Grocholski each reached 1,000 career points last week. With those milestones, Minnesota now has three active 1,000-point scorers. Brylee Glenn is nearing the mark, sitting at 888 career points.
- Against Wyoming, Glenn was perfect, shooting 100% for the first time in her career. She scored 14 points, going 6 of 6 from the field and 2 of 2 from beyond the arc.
- Tori McKinney has made a significant impact during her sophomore season, nearly doubling her scoring average. Through 11 games last season, she averaged 8.2 points per game while shooting 44.6%. This season, she is averaging 13.7 points per game on 52.3% shooting. McKinney is the only Gopher to reach double figures in every game she has played this season except one.
- Against Wyoming, Minnesota recorded season highs in both field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage. The Gophers shot 55.9% from the field and 53.3% from beyond the arc. It marked Minnesota's highest shooting performance since shooting 55% against Northwestern last season.
- The Maroon and Gold have had at least four players score in double figures in each of the past three games. Against No. 7 Maryland, Grocholski scored a career-high 31 points and made nine 3-pointers, the second-most by a Gopher in a single game. The guard ranks eighth nationally in 3-point percentage, shooting 50.9%.
- The Gophers rank fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (212/112), fourth in the NCAA and second in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (10.2), and fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (50.7 points per game).
SERIES HISTORY
- Drake leads the all-time series 10-7 in a matchup that dates back to 1979.
- The Gophers and Bulldogs last met in 2023, when the game went to double overtime at Williams Arena. Mara Braun scored 33 points in the 94-88 victory.
- Minnesota is 32-16 all-time against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- The 2025-26 season marks Allison Pohlman's fifth year as head coach.
- Last season, Pohlman guided the Bulldogs to a 22-12 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. By winning 22 games, she became the first coach in Drake women's basketball history to record 20 or more victories in each of her first four seasons.
- The Bulldogs are led by Abbie Aalsma, who is averaging 15.3 points per game. Grace Knutson is averaging 13.1 points per game. Both have appeared in all 10 games this season.
- Drake bounced back Wednesday night after a seven-game losing streak, earning a 97-77 victory over Illinois State to open conference play.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Wyoming
Tuesday, December 16
Highlights: Gophers 80, Wyoming 34
Sunday, December 14
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Alabama A&M
Friday, December 12
Highlights: Gophers 82, Alabama A&M 44
Wednesday, December 10