Gophers women gameday
7 p.m. vs. Nebraska • Williams Arena
BTN Plus, 1500-AM
Gophers (16-7, 8-4 Big Ten): After winning six of their past seven games, the Gophers begin the toughest stretch of their schedule with consecutive home games against Nebraska and Iowa. They are 11-2 at Williams Arena, including a 5-1 mark in league play. Senior G Rachel Banham is the third-leading scorer in the nation and tops in the Big Ten at 25.8 points per game; she is averaging 28.3 in conference games. Banham and sophomore G Carlie Wagner (19.3 ppg) have paced the Gophers to 82 points per game — sixth in the country, and on course to break the program record of 80.2 set in 1982-83. With 204 three-pointers this season, the Gophers are only 10 short of the program record set last season.
Nebraska (16-7, 7-5): The Huskers sit right behind the Gophers in the Big Ten standings and have won seven of their past nine games. They are 3-4 on the road in league play. Freshman F Jessica Shepard has been named Big Ten freshman of the week nine times this season — a conference record — and leads Nebraska with 20.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. The 6-4 Shepard has broken several of the Huskers' rookie records and is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in scoring and is fourth in rebounding. Senior G Rachel Theriot is ranked sixth in the nation in assists per game (7.0), and sophomore G Natalie Romeo is tied for third in the nation in three-pointers per game (3.4).
RACHEL BLOUNT