No. 18/17 Minnesota to Face Kansas State at The Pentagon

MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 18/17 University of Minnesota women's basketball team (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will face Kansas State (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) on Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the Pentagon. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and can be streamed on B1G+ with Reid Magnum and Linnae Harper and heard on KFAN+ with Tanner Hoops and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.

No. 18/17 Minnesota (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Kansas State (4-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Tip Time: 1 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+ (Reid Magnum, Linnae Harper)
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Tanner Hoops and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Sanford Pentagon (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

ALL-TIME SERIES

Saturday's game marks the 18th meeting between Minnesota and Kansas State in a series that began in 1977.
The Wildcats lead the series 11-6.
This will be the first official meeting since facing each other in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2004. The Gophers defeated the Wildcats at The Barn 80-61.
That same season, Minnesota would go on to reach the Final Four for the first time in program history.

STARTING FIVE

Minnesota is coming off an 86-47 win over Southern University on Tuesday night at The Barn. The Gophers took a 16-6 lead in the first quarter and never trailed to pick up their third consecutive win of the season. The Maroon and Gold held Southern to 31.9% shooting from the field.
As a team, Minnesota had at least 20 assists for the second consecutive game. The Gophers had 21 at Marquette and recorded 20 against the Jaguars. Through three games, Minnesota is averaging 17.3 assists per game this season.
Grace Grocholski leads the team in scoring and ranks 13th in the Big Ten, averaging 18.7 points per game. She has reached double figures in scoring through Minnesota's first three games, including a season-high 25 points at Marquette.
On Tuesday, Mara Braun led Minnesota with 19 points, four steals, one assist and one block. Braun leads Minnesota with eight steals and ranks third on the roster, averaging 11.3 points per game.
Freshman Natalie Kussow has stepped into a starting role this season, averaging 10.7 points per game. Against the Jaguars, she had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST ACCURATE SHOOTERS

Jenn Rodgers at the NCAA determined that as of Wednesday there were 31,600 men's (15,833) and women's (15,767) players on Division I, II and III basketball teams this season. Why is that important?
Because Minnesota's Gracie Merkle is tied for the third highest field goal percentage of men and women who have met the NCAA shot minium of 240 shots from the floor listed among active career leaders. Merkle has connected 613 of her 870 shot attempts during her collegiate career. She has a 70.5% conversion rate.

**CAREER FG PCT. LEADERS**
RANK	PLAYER, SCHOOL	D / M-F	FG-FGA	PCT.
1.	James Scott, Georgia	I / M	254-332	.765
2.	Cooper Bowser, Arkansas	I / M	316-443	.713
3.	GRACIE MERKLE, MINNESOTA	I / W	613-870	.705
	Ben Bill, St. Bonaventure	I / M	419-594	.705
5.	Ben Defty, Arizona State	I / M	265-393	.674

NOTES TO KNOW

Transfer Tayla Thomas has made an immediate impact on the Gophers' roster this season. The junior center has totaled 27 rebounds through three games and is averaging 8.7 points per game. In her Maroon and Gold debut, Thomas recorded a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Freshman Tori Oehrlein has gained key minutes off the bench. The Crosby-Ironton, Minn., product is averaging 7.0 points per game and has logged seven assists.
On Tuesday, senior Kennedy Klick played a career-high 18 minutes and matched her career high with four assists.
Against Southern, Minnesota shot 55.2% (32-58) from the field, the first time the Gophers shot at least 55% since shooting 59.3% (43-54) against Wisconsin on Jan. 25, 2026.
The Gophers also recorded 16 steals, matching their highest single-game mark since tallying 16 against NJIT on Nov. 14, 2025. In addition, Minnesota forced 27 turnovers, its most in a game since forcing 27 against Bryant on Nov. 26, 2019.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE

Head coach Jeff Mittie is in his 13th season leading the Wildcats. At Kansas State, he has compiled a 241-161 record. Mittie is one of the winningest active head coaches in the NCAA with more than 690 career victories in his 35th season overall.
The Wildcats have three players averaging double figures, led by Aaryn Sides at 13.0 points per game. Nastja Claessens and Shaila Nde are both averaging 11.3 points per game.
Shaila Nde has pulled down 34 rebounds this season, ranking second in the Big 12 and 31st nationally.

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Players Mentioned

Mara Braun

Grace Grocholski

Kennedy Klick

Natalie Kussow

Gracie Merkle

Tori Oehrlein

Tayla Thomas