U women's gameday
1 P.M. VS. OhIO STATE • WILLIAMS ARENA • NO TV (1500-AM)
Gophers at a glance: With sophomores Shayne Mullaney and Jackie Johnson expected to be out, the Gophers (18-11, 7-8) will play their fifth consecutive game Sunday with eight or fewer healthy players. And it's been taking its toll. Over the past three games, the Gophers have shot an uncharacteristic 33.9 percent from the field (compared to 45.2 percent this season) and 23.3 percent from three-point range. Minnesota is still fourth nationally in three-point shooting at 39.2 percent. … Rachel Banham has 73 three-pointers this season and needs two more for the Gophers single-season record. She also can become the first Gopher since Carol Ann Shudlick in 1993 to lead the Big Ten in scoring in league-only games with an average of 23.1 coming into Sunday.
Buckeyes at a glance: It's been a struggle in the first season of the Kevin McGuff era at Ohio State (15-16, 5-10), and the Buckeyes come to Minneapolis having lost six of their past seven games. … Sophomore Ameryst Alston leads the Buckeyes in scoring at 18.6 points per game. She had 18 points and five assists in a four-point loss at No. 25 Iowa on Thursday. Ohio State led by seven points in the second half. … Despite their struggles in league play, the Buckeyes' record might be a bit deceiving. They've played the No. 2 ranked schedule according to RealTimeRPI.com, and are No. 55 in the RPI rankings. … Ohio State and Minnesota haven't played since the Buckeyes beat the Gophers 58-47 in the first round of last year's Big Ten tournament.
BRYCE EVANS
