Golden Gophers Aim for 20-Win Season, Face Wisconsin Badgers
The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (19-6, 10-4 Big Ten) travels to Madison, Wisconsin, this Sunday to grab on the Badgers (13-12, 5-9 Big Ten) at the Kohl Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network, with Mike Hall and Shimmy Miller providing commentary. Fans can also tune in on KFAN+ 96.7 FM or the iHeartRadio app, featuring Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist.
Gophers Riding a Seven-Game Winning Streak
Minnesota enters the contest with a seven-game winning streak, most recently defeating Nebraska 84-67 on Thursday. This marks the team’s longest winning streak since opening the 2024-25 season with ten consecutive victories. Within Big Ten play, it’s the second-longest streak, trailing only an 11-game run from February 2003 to January 2004.
Balanced Scoring a Key to Success
The Gophers’ recent success has been fueled by balanced scoring. Against Nebraska, all five starters reached double figures, led by Amaya Battle’s 21 points and six rebounds. Mara Braun added 15, Sophie Hart contributed 14, Grace Grocholski scored 12, and Tori McKinney finished with 11. This marked only the 10th time in program history that Minnesota’s starting five all scored in double figures, and the first since November 24, 2024, against Montana.
Series History Favors Minnesota
Minnesota holds a 50-40 advantage in the all-time series against Wisconsin. The Gophers are 25-16 at home, 21-20 on the road, and 4-4 at neutral sites. Earlier this season, Minnesota secured an 88-53 victory over the Badgers at Williams Arena on January 25, with Tori McKinney leading the team with 20 points. Minnesota has won the last three games against Wisconsin.
National Rankings and Statistical Highlights
Minnesota is currently ranked No. 10 in the NET rankings, placing them among the top 25 Big Ten teams. The team’s assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6 ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten. Defensively, the Gophers allow only 56.4 points per game, ranking 20th in the nation and first in the conference. They lead the Big Ten and are third in the NCAA with 11 games holding opponents to 50 points or fewer.
Player Spotlight: Grace Grocholski
Grace Grocholski leads Minnesota with 328 points and averages 13.1 points per game. She boasts impressive shooting percentages, connecting on 50.6% of her field goals, 46.3% of her three-pointers, and 82.8% of her free throws. With 208 career three-pointers, she ranks eighth in program history. Grocholski is also ranked sixth nationally and third in the Big Ten in three-point percentage.
Amaya Battle: A Versatile Force
Amaya Battle is a unique player, being the only active NCAA player (since 2022) with over 1,000 career points, 700 career rebounds, and 500 career assists. Her career totals currently stand at 1,425 points, 713 rebounds, and 575 assists. She is approaching the program record for career assists, currently ranking third all-time.
Tori McKinney’s Recent Surge
Tori McKinney has been a key contributor in recent games, averaging a team-leading 16.5 points over the last six contests, along with 19 assists and 11 steals. She recently recorded back-to-back 20-point games, scoring 23 against Penn State and 20 against Wisconsin.
Mara Braun’s Offensive Contributions
Mara Braun has been a consistent offensive threat, averaging 13.3 points over the last six games. She scored a season-high 22 points at Penn State on January 28 and went 4-for-4 from three-point range at Iowa.
FAQ
Q: Where can I watch the game?
A: The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Q: What is Minnesota’s record this season?
A: Minnesota is currently 19-6 overall and 10-4 in Big Ten play.
Q: What is Minnesota’s ranking in the NET?
A: Minnesota is ranked No. 10 in the NET.
Q: Who leads Minnesota in scoring?
A: Grace Grocholski leads Minnesota with 328 points.
Did you understand? Minnesota is aiming for its third consecutive 20-win season, a feat last accomplished by Marlene Stollings from 2013-2016.
Stay tuned to GopherSports.com for the latest updates and coverage of the Minnesota women’s basketball team.
