U women gameday

Subway Classic • WILLIAMS ARENA • 88.5 FM

Friday: Gophers vs. UCLA, noon

Saturday: UCLA vs. AUBURN, 2 p.m.

Sunday: Gophers vs. Auburn, 2 p.m.

Gophers at a glance: The Gophers (9-2) are off to their best start since the 2005–06 season, but come into Friday's matchup after a 12-day layoff. They narrowly avoided an upset against North Dakota their last time out on Dec. 8, a game in which star guard Rachel Banham sat out because of an knee injury. Redshirt freshman Amanda Zahui B. had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the 46-44 victory, as the Gophers improved to 6-0 at Williams Arena. … Banham, who leads the Gophers in scoring at 22.2 points per game, will be back in the lineup this week, and the junior is just eight points shy of 1,500 for her career. … The Gophers lead the nation in three-point shooting, hitting at a .451 rate from behind the arc.

UCLA at a glance: The Bruins (4-5) come back to the Barn for the first time since falling to the Gophers in the first round of the 2004 NCAA tournament, and they will be playing their sixth and seventh consecutive games away from home. … Atonye Nyingifa is one of three Bruins averaging double digits in scoring, leading UCLA at 17.7 points per game. She also leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game. … Three of UCLA's losses have come against ranked teams — No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 14 North Carolina and No. 19 Nebraska. The Bruins beat then-No. 10 Oklahoma 82-76 on Nov. 24.

Auburn at a glance: The Tigers (8-3) are fresh off a dominating 64-27 victory over Presbyterian on Wednesday. The 27 points allowed were the fewest for an Auburn opponent since 2004. … On the season, Auburn has had a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging in double figures: Tyrese Tanner (16.2 points per game), Hasina Muhammad (15.0), Brandy Montgomery (12.0) and Tra'Cee Tanner (10.5). … One Auburn's three losses this season came against Chatanooga, 80-52. The Gophers also played the Lady Mocs this season, beating them 63-62 in Honolulu on Nov. 29. … The Gophers and Tigers have only played once, won by Auburn 101-46 in 1986.

BRYCE EVANS