U women's gameday
NOON vs. CLEVELAND STATE • Williams Arena
Pay-per-view TV: BTN Plus (88.5-FM)
Preview: It's a matinee show in The Barn today for the Gophers' Kids Field Trip Day, with local elementary schools coming to watch the game over lunch. Marlene Stollings' debut as the Gophers' coach was a huge success. The 109-60 victory over Southeastern Louisiana last Friday was the Gophers' first time eclipsing 100 points since Nov. 23, 2002, when Minnesota set a school record for points with 116 against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne. Keep an eye on that mark; it could fall this season.
The Gophers: Senior guard Rachel Banham is fourth on the program's all-time scoring list with 2,011 points. She is 34 points away from passing Laura Coenen (2,044), and moving into the third spot. Three players scored 20 or more points in the opener. Junior forward Kayla Hirt and senior forward Shae Kelley, a transfer from Old Dominion, each netted 21 points. Sophomore center Amanda Zahui B. came off the bench to add 20 points. Expect more of the same today. Cleveland State ranked 319th in scoring defense last season.
The Vikings: Coach Kate Peterson Abiad's squad opened with an 81-71 victory over Toledo. The Vikings had four players in double figures. They were led by senior guard Cori Coleman's 20 points. They are looking for their first winning season since 2010-11. "Minnesota is going to be bigger, and have more scoring potential, so we will really have to be dialed in and ready to play," Peterson Abiad said. "The Minnesota game is a game that we know will be a big challenge."
