gophers women gameday

6 P.M. VS. Butler • WILLIAMS ARENA • BTN Plus, 1500-AM

Gophers preview: Minnesota (7-1) is back in the Barn after playing four games in a row on the road, a run in which the Gophers went 3-1. … They won at North Carolina State 60-55 on Wednesday behind a double-double from Amanda Zahui B. The sophomore center scored the Gophers' final nine points on free throws, and finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. … Between the 6-5 Zahui B. (9.3 rebounds per game) and 6-1 senior Shae Kelley (9.4 rebounds per game), the Gophers have dominated the glass this season, outrebounding their opponents by more than 12 per game. … Senior guard Rachel Banham, who recently moved into second place on the Gophers' all-time scoring list, needs just three three-point field goals to break the program record. She currently has 228.

Bulldogs preview: Butler (2-7) comes to Minneapolis fresh off a 57-49 win over Wright State on Friday night — the Bulldogs' second win in three games after starting the season 0-6. … Butler has had balanced scoring all season (four players average more than 11 points per game) but has struggled with efficiency. The Bulldogs have shot just 38.1 percent from the floor and average 13.4 turnovers per game. … It'll be just the second meeting between the Gophers and Bulldogs, Minnesota winning the first 114-65 on Nov. 17, 2001.

BRYCE EVANS