MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 23 ranked University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (17-2, 5-2 B1G) is set to host the No. 24 ranked Michigan Wolverines (13-5, 4-3 B1G) on Wednesday night. The Jan. 22 matchup is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT on B1G+ while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will broadcast the game […]
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 23 ranked University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (17-2, 5-2 B1G) is set to host the No. 24 ranked Michigan Wolverines (13-5, 4-3 B1G) on Wednesday night. The Jan. 22 matchup is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT on B1G+ while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will broadcast the game on KFAN+. No. 23 Minnesota (17-2, 5-2 B1G) vs. No. 24 Michigan (13-5, 4-3 B1G)
Stream: B1G+
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m.
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Williams ArenaBy the Numbers
- Minnesota set a program record with 12 non-conference wins, surpassing the previous high of 11 set in seven different seasons, most recently in 2018-19.
- The Gophers are 11-0 at home this season, marking their longest home undefeated streak since 2018-19.
- The Maroon & Gold appeared in the AP Top 25 Poll for the second week in a row, moving up to No. 23. The most recent NET rankings has Minnesota at No. 28
- Wednesday’s game is the first top 25 match up at Williams Arena since Jan. 17, 2019. No. 23 Minnesota fell to No. 22 Iowa, 81-63.
- The Maroon & Gold appeared in the AP Top 25 Poll for the second week in a row, moving up to No. 23. The most recent NET rankings has Minnesota at No. 28.
- On Tuesday, the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll came out, with Minnesota appearing at No. 24.
- Four Gophers are averaging at least 10.3 points per game: Tori McKinney (10.3), Amaya Battle (10.5), Annika Stewart (10.7), and Grace Grocholski (11.8).
About the Michigan Game
- Minnesota and Michigan are meeting for the 70th time Wednesday, with the Golden Gophers leading the all-time series 36-33. The first matchup between the conference foes occurred in 1976.
- Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit spent five seasons in Ann Arbor as associate head coach under Kevin Borseth (2007-12) before Kim Barnes Arico took over in 2012.
- Last season, the Maroon & Gold faced the Wolverines twice — once during the regular season and once during the Big Ten Tournament. In Ann Arbor, the Gophers won 82-66, snapping a four-game losing streak to Michigan. In the conference tournament, Minnesota fell 76-57.
- After three-straight conference victories over Purdue (87-60), Washington (82-69), and Rutgers (87-71) Michigan returned to the AP Poll this week at No. 24. This season, they’ve been ranked as high as No. 20 with a NET ranking of No. 25. The Wolverines have now spent seven weeks ranked this season.
- Michigan has one of the toughest schedules in the conference, having faced five ranked opponents: No. 1 South Carolina, No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 4 Southern California, No. 1 UCLA, and No. 9 Ohio State.
- Against top-25 opponents, the Wolverines are averaging 65.8 points per game and outshooting them from beyond the arc, with a 32% mark (33 of 103) compared to 30.4% (31 of 102) by their opponents.
- Three of Michigan’s top four scorers are freshmen: Olivia Olson (15.8 points per game), Syla Swords (15.4), and Mila Holloway (10.4).
- Senior guard Jordan Hobbs is the lone upperclassman starter for the Wolverines. Hobbs has started all 18 games this season and is averaging 13.3 points per game.
Gopher Notables
- 800: Minnesota is nine wins away from a program record 800 wins.
- 400: On Jan. 5, 2025 Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit secured her 400th career win over Big Ten opponent Illinois.
- 28: The Gophers’ NET rankings is 28, they’ve stayed in the top 30 since Dec. 28, 2024.
- 23: Minnesota appeared in the AP Poll for the second week, bumping up one spot to No. 23.
- 4: The Maroon & Gold rank No. 4 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (325/182).
- 1: Minnesota is the top ranked team in the Big Ten and nation in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 9.6 a contest.
