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Last update: November 27, 2008 - 11:33 PM

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Today and Saturday

Boulder, Colo./Coors Event Center

No TV; 88.5 FM

Today: Gophers vs. Drexel, 6 p.m.; Colorado vs. Massachusetts, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday: Third-place game, 6 p.m.; championship game, 8:30 p.m.

The Gophers: A deeper roster has given the team more balanced scoring, as well as a consistently strong and energetic defense. Nine of the Gophers' 11 players have hit double figures this season, and two are averaging more than 10 points a game: Emily Fox (14.2) and Katie Ohm (13.4). Eight players are averaging at least 16 minutes per game, and solid play from the reserves --particularly Kay Sylva and Kiara Buford --has allowed the Gophers (4-1) to maintain a fast-paced offense and high-pressure defense throughout their games.

Drexel: The Dragons (2-2) have a diverse roster, with players from Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Belgium and Slovakia. Forward Gabriela Marginean, preseason player of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association, is averaging 29.5 points this season --more than half of Drexel's average output of 58 points per game. She shot 91.5 percent from the free-throw line last season, best in the nation.

Colorado: The Buffaloes won their first two games this season before losing at No. 16 Virginia 77-43 on Monday. The Cavaliers grabbed 68 rebounds to Colorado's 43; this season, the Buffs are being outrebounded by an average of 11.4 per game. Sophomore forward Brittany Spears leads the Buffs with 17 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Massachusetts: The Minutewomen have only two seniors and one junior on a team that has gone 2-2 this season, with victories over Manhattan and New Hampshire and losses at Maine and Vermont. Shooting accuracy and ballhandling have been problem areas. They are hitting 38.4 percent of their shots and a cool 58 percent from the free-throw line, and they average 22.5 turnovers per game.

RACHEL BLOUNT

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