Minnesota to Face Rutgers on Sunday

MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team (17-6, 8-4 Big Ten) continues its road trip to Piscataway, N.J., to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-14, 1-11 Big Ten) at 11 a.m. Sunday on B1G+, live from Jersey Mike's Arena. Fans can also listen on KFAN+ 96.7 FM or the iHeartRadio app with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist.

Minnesota (17-6, 8-4 Big Ten) at Rutgers (9-14, 1-11 Big Ten)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 11 a.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM, and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Jersey Mikes Arena (Piscataway, N.J.)

STARTING FIVE

Before returning to Williams Arena to host Nebraska on Thursday, the Golden Gophers will face Rutgers on Sunday at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights lead the all-time series 9-7, which began in 1982.
The Maroon and Gold are coming off a 91-85 upset of No. 10 Iowa on Thursday night. After trailing by one point at the end of the first quarter, Tori McKinney and Grace Grocholski hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Minnesota a lead it would not relinquish. The win marked Minnesota's second victory over an AP Top 25 opponent this season, its first outright win over a top-10 team since a 93-74 victory over No. 10 Maryland at Williams Arena in 2018 and its first top-10 road win since 2003, when the Gophers defeated No. 9 Stanford 68-56 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was also Minnesota's first regular-season top-10 road win since beating No. 5 Wisconsin 92-85 in 2002.
Minnesota snapped an 11-game losing streak against Iowa, earning its first win over the Hawkeyes since a 90-89 victory in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament. Four Gophers scored in double figures, led by Carlie Wagner with 27 points and Kenisha Bell with 26.
Five Gophers scored in double figures in Thursday's win over Iowa, led by Grocholski's 21 points, her fourth 20-point game of the season. Mara Braun added 16 points and went 4-for-4 from 3-point range. McKinney finished with 15 points to record her fourth consecutive double-figure game and 14th of the season. Amaya Battle posted her third double-double of the season with 12 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and six assists, while Finau Tonga added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Minnesota's win streak currently stands at five games. It's the first five-game win streak for Minnesota this season and 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 Iowa win improved the Maroon and Gold's record to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play. It marks the best 12-game start in conference play since the 2017-18 season when the team also started 8-4. That season was also the last time Minnesota made the NCAA Tournament.
As a team, Minnesota set a program record by shooting 71.4% from 3-point range, going 10-for-14 and breaking a mark that had stood since 2015.

WHERE THEY RANK

Minnesota is ranked No. 9 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. Minnesota's NET ranking is the third highest in the Big Ten, only behind No. 2 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan.
The Gophers lead the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 10.3. The next closest Big Ten team is Illinois at 12.4 turnovers per contest.
Minnesota's 1.61 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten.
The Maroon and Gold's defense allows only 56.1 points per game, ranking them 19th in the NCAA and first in the conference. UCLA is second in the Big Ten at 56.7 points allowed per game.

THE ORIGINAL G-MONEY

Following Minnesota's win over No. 10 Iowa, Grace Grocholski leads the nation shooting 48.7% from 3-point range. She is also shooting 52% from the field and 75% from the free throw line.
This season, Grace Grocholski leads Minnesota with 316 points, averaging 13.7 points per game.
Grocholski ranks second on the Gophers' roster with 62 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

In Minnesota's last four games, Tori McKinney leads the Gophers with 72 points and is averaging 18 points per game.
She's scored in double digits in 14 out of 19 games she's played in, including a season high 23 points at Penn State.
Tori McKinney recorded back-to-back 20-point games, scoring 23 points against Penn State after posting 20 against Wisconsin.
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 1,396 points, 699 rebounds and 570 assists.
Battle ranks third all-time in career assists in Minnesota's record book. She is nine away from surpassing Lindsay Whalen (578) for second all-time.
The Hopkins, Minnesota, native has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games. During that stretch, the guard has led Minnesota with 37 rebounds and 18 assists, while totaling 59 points and averaging 14.8 points per game.

Upcoming Events

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Amaya Battle

Mara Braun

Grace Grocholski

Tori McKinney

Finau Tonga