gophers women gameday

2 P.M. VS. OAKLAND • WILLIAMS ARENA • 88.5-FM

Gophers preview: Minnesota (10-3) is back at the Barn a week after its 67-54 triumph over Auburn on Dec. 22. The victory helped the Gophers take home the Subway Classic title (on a points-allowed tiebreaker) and bounce back from their first home loss of the season two days earlier to UCLA. … Junior guard Rachel Banham scored 46 points during the tournament, helping her become the eighth Gopher to eclipse 1,500 career points. She is averaging a team-high 22.3 points per game this season. … Redshirt freshman Amanda Zahui B. was selected the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 23 after averaging 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 blocks in Minnesota's two games against UCLA and Auburn.

Golden Grizzlies preview: Oakland (Mich.) comes to Williams Arena after back-to-back wins over the University of Michigan–Dearborn and Western Michigan … The Gophers and Grizzlies have never met, but they did have one common opponent already this season. Oakland lost to Miami (Fla.) 86-68 on Nov. 19. The Gophers beat the Hurricanes 74-67 on Dec. 4 at Williams Arena. … Olivia Nash leads the Grizzlies (4-7) in scoring and rebounding at 13.9 points and 8.1 boards per game. Elena Popkey is second on the team at 11.5 points per game. … Oakland has played two Big Ten teams this season, losing to Indiana (85-55) and Michigan State (80-62).

BRYCE EVANS