Minnesota Hits the Road for No. 10 Iowa

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team hits the road for two games this week, starting at Iowa on Thursday and then to Rutgers on Sunday. The Golden Gophers (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten) will first face the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes (18-4, 9-2 Big Ten) at 6 p.m. Thursday on Big Ten Network from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fans can also listen on KFAN+ 96.7 FM or the iHeartRadio app with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist.

Minnesota (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten) at No. 10 Iowa (18-4, 9-2 Big Ten)
TV: Big Ten Network
Tip Time: 6 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM, and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Carver Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)

STARTING FIVE

Minnesota's win streak currently stands at four games, including victories last week at Penn State (87-66) and against Purdue (88-55). It's the third four-game win streak for Minnesota this season, while a win Thursday would give the team its longest win streak since going 5-0 en route to winning last season's WBIT championship. In addition, it's the team's longest win streak within the Big Ten since winning six in a row during the 2018-19 campaign.
The Purdue win improved the Maroon and Gold's record to 16-6 overall and 7-4 in Big Ten play. It marks the best 11-game start in conference play since the 2017-18 season when the team also started 7-4. That season was also the last time Minnesota made the NCAA Tournament.
Amaya Battle led the Gophers over the Boilermakers with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and one steal and block. Sophie Hart followed behind with 15 points, six rebounds and a team-high three blocks. Tori McKinney added 14 points and a season and team-high five assists.
The Maroon and Gold shot a season-high 60.3% (35-58) from the field against Purdue. The field-goal percentage is the highest under head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. It's the first time since 2013 that Minnesota has reached that mark and only the 12th time the Gophers have shot above 60% since 2002-03.
In addition, the Gophers also shot 50% (6-12) from the three-point line and 70.6% (12-17) from the line.
The win over Purdue marked just the eighth time since the 2002-03 season in which Minnesota shot better than 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 70% from the free throw line. Minnesota last hit those marks against Penn State in 2013.

IOWA SERIES HISTORY

Iowa leads the all-time series that dates back to 1974, 61-27.
Minnesota hasn't defeated Iowa since 2018. The Gophers defeated the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament, 90-89, that season.

WHERE THEY RANK

Minnesota is ranked No. 10 in the NET and is one of 10 Big Ten teams in the top 25. The Gophers also received six votes in this week's AP Top 25
The Gophers lead the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 10.3. The next closest Big Ten team is Michigan State at 12.4 turnovers per contest.
Minnesota's 1.62 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten.
The Maroon and Gold's defense allows only 54.8 points per game, ranking them 10th in the NCAA and first in the conference. UCLA is second in the Big Ten at 57.1 points allowed per game.

THE ORIGINAL G-MONEY

This season, Grace Grocholski leads Minnesota with 295 points and averages 13.4 points per game.
The guard-forward is shooting 52.1% from the field, 48.2% from 3-point range and 73.9% from the free throw line. She is one of two Big Ten players to post those numbers, along with Nebraska's Britt Prince.
The guard-forward has 205 career made 3-pointers, ranking No. 8 all time in Minnesota program history.
Grocholski leads the nation in 3-point percentage. She also ranks fifth in the conference in 3-pointers made (59) and 3-pointers made per game (2.45)
Grocholski ranks second on the Gophers' roster with 55 assists.
Against No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7, Grocholski knocked down a career-high nine 3-pointers on her way to a career-best 31 points, tying for the second-most 3-pointers made in a single game in program history.

McKINNEY MAGIC

Tori McKinney recorded back-to-back 20-point games, scoring23 points against Penn State on Wednesday after posting 20 against Wisconsin last Sunday.
It marked the first time a Gopher scored 20 or more points in consecutive games since Mara Braun did so against Purdue (21 on Dec. 10, 2023) and Grambling (26 on Dec. 13, 2023).
Against the Nittany Lions, McKinney set a career high threes made in a game, going 5-7.

BATTLE TIME

Amaya Battle is the only active NCAA player (playing from 2022-present) with more than 1,000 career points, 600 career rebounds and 500 career assists.
Battle's career totals stand at 1,384 points, 685 rebounds and 564 assists.
Along with Battle, Rachel Banham is the only other Golden Gopher to record at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 500 assists in a career.
Battle ranks third all-time in career assists in Minnesota's record book. She is 15 away from surpassing Lindsay Whalen (578) for second all-time.

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