Gophers at a glance: The Gophers are looking to end a four-game losing skid, but they will have to beat a ranked foe to do it. Rachel Banham scored 37 points, and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career Monday, but it wasn't enough for the Gophers (13-8, 2-5 Big Ten) to beat Illinois. If they are going to climb up the conference standings, the Gophers will have to shore up their defense. The Illini scored 91 points, the most the Gophers have given up all season.
Michigan at a glance: No. 23 Michigan is coming off a 63-57 loss to Iowa on Sunday night. The Wolverines (16-4 overall) started Big Ten play 4-0 but now sit at 5-2 with a tough stretch of games ahead. Kate Thompson (15.1 points per game), Rachel Sheffer (12.5) and Jenny Ryan (11.5) are all averaging double figures. Thompson, a former Wayzata High School star, is shooting 44.8 percent (73 of 163) from three-point range.
AARON PAITICH
