University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, March 23
Springfield, MO
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Missouri State
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Lynn
Gophers Ready for Round Two of WBIT
3/22/2025 11:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota will face Missouri State on Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team will compete in the second round of the WBIT on Sunday against the Missouri State Bears. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. CT live from Springfield, Mo., at Great Southern Bank Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will have the call on KFAN+.
Minnesota (21-11, 8-10 B1G) vs. Missouri State (26-8, 16-4 MVC)
Stream: ESPN+
Tip Time: 2 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Great Southern Bank Arena
Gopher Notables
First Round Recap
About the WBIT
The Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament is in its second year as a 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament owned and funded by the NCAA. The competition is the second-best women's basketball postseason tournament, behind the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.Â
WBIT Schedule
First round: Thursday, March 20 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Second round: Sunday, March 23 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 27 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Semifinals: 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET Monday, March 31 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Championship: 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 2 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Minnesota (21-11, 8-10 B1G) vs. Missouri State (26-8, 16-4 MVC)
Stream: ESPN+
Tip Time: 2 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Great Southern Bank Arena
Gopher Notables
- The WBIT bid marks Minnesota's 18th postseason appearance and second consecutive season appearing in a national tournament.Â
- Last season, the Gophers made their seventh WNIT and advanced to the championship game for the first time in program history.Â
- Minnesota collected two All-Big Ten Awards at the end of the regular season, as voted on by the league's coaches and media. Amaya Battle and Grace Grocholski earned All-Big Ten Honorable mention nods, by both coaches and media. Senior Maggie Czinano was also named the team's representative for the Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive season.Â
- Minnesota set a program record this season with 12 nonconference wins, surpassing the previous high of 11 set in seven different seasons, most recently in 2018-19.
- On three occasions this season, five Gophers have scored in double digits (Montana, Illinois, Ohio State).On 10 occasions, four have scored in double figures (Nebraska, Prairie View A&M, UMass Lowell, Illinois, Houston, Rutgers, Maryland, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oregon).
- Sunday's tilt is the second meeting between the Golden Gophers and the Bears. The two teams met previously on Nov. 5, 2019 with Missouri State defeating Minnesota 77-69 at Williams Arena.
- The Maroon & Gold are 27-16 against the Missouri Valley Conference. Minnesota's last meeting with a conference member was in 2019 against the Bears.
- Missouri State picked up its fair share of postseason accolades, including MVC Coach of the Year in Beth Cunningham, Defensive Player of the Year in Lacy Stokes, and Sixth Player of the Year in Kaemyn Bekemeier. Sarah Linthacum earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team and Lainie Douglas secured an All-Freshman Team honor.
- Along with an undefeated home record, the Bears secured their 15th Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship this past season.Â
- Missouri State is paced offensively by Stokes averaging 14.4 points per game on a 34.7% shooting clip. Bekemeier is shooting 45.6%, 5.8 boards per game, and 11.3 points per game.Â
First Round Recap
- Minnesota defeated Toledo, 65-53, to advance to the second round of the WBIT on Thursday night.Â
- Three Gophers scored in double digit figures with Amaya Battle's 18 points leading the way. Grace Grocholski had 15 points and three steals followed by Sophie Hart's 14 points and eight rebounds. It marked the sixth consecutive game Grocholski hit double figures and 21st game this season the sophomore has hit the mark.
- Redshirt sophomore Niamya Holloway went 3-3 from the field, scoring six points, with three rebounds, and a block. Notably, Holloway leads Minnesota's team high three blocks in a game hitting the mark against North Florida on Dec. 3.
About the WBIT
The Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament is in its second year as a 32-team postseason single-elimination tournament owned and funded by the NCAA. The competition is the second-best women's basketball postseason tournament, behind the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.Â
WBIT Schedule
First round: Thursday, March 20 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Second round: Sunday, March 23 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 27 on ESPN+ (campus sites)
Semifinals: 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET Monday, March 31 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Championship: 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 2 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
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