U women's gameday
2 P.M. VS. Illinois • Williams ARENA • 1500-AM
Gophers at a Glance: Minnesota (14-9, 3-6) heads back to The Barn after a seven-day layoff following one of the team's most impressive offensive performances of the season. After trailing Michigan 38-34 at halftime in Ann Arbor on Feb. 1, the Gophers shot 77.3 percent, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, in a 51-point second half to pick up their first Big Ten road victory of the season, 85-69. … Guard Mikayla Bailey set a career high with 17 points, and Rachel Banham, averaging a team-high 22.8 points per game, went 7-for-12 from the field, 4-of-6 from behind the arc, for 24 points. … Amanda Zahui B. picked up her conference-leading 10th double-double of the season (24 points, 16 rebounds). The redshirt freshman also had four blocks, tying the Minnesota single-season record of 65 set by Janel McCarville in 2003-04.
Illinois at a Glance: The Illini (9-14, 2-8) are on a four-game losing streak — dropping each game by an average of 20.8 points. But Illinois has won seven of its past eight against Minnesota, including both last season. The Illini 91-86 on their last trip to Williams Arena on Jan. 28, 2013. … Illini head coach Matt Bollant shook up his team's rotation in its 69-53 loss to No. 24 Michigan State on Wednesday by starting three freshmen. Junior guard Ivory Crawford, who leads the team with 15.4 points per game, was the only regular to retain her spot. … The Illini have forced 202 turnovers through eight games in Big Ten play, and they've averaged 22.7 points per game off turnovers over that stretch.
BRYCE EVANS
