WBB: Gophers @ Illinois-B1G Game 3 (1/7)

Ignatius L Hoops

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Minnesota 9-4 (1-1 B1G) travels to Champagne for a Thursday night BTN tilt with the Illini. Illinois 7-6 (0-2 B1G) won last year’s only match-up, also in Champagne, 95-69. In that game sophomore, Jacqui Grant, since departed to DePaul, led all scorers with 29 points. It was never close as the Illini out rebounded Minnesota 52-30 to end a seven game losing streak. During his tenure at Illinois, Matt Bollant is 3-1 versus Minnesota. His UWGB team also knocked off Minnesota in Williams.

In the B1G: Illinois has losses to Maryland 79-63 and Purdue 69-65.

Common opponents: Illinois lost at Memphis 81-75. Minnesota defeated Memphis 70-60.

Illini Injury Report: Starter Cierra Rice injured her knee in the South Dakota loss. She has not returned and is expected to be out several more weeks. Center Chatrice White tweaked a ham string late in the Purdue game. With about 4:00 minutes remaining, White was helped off the court but returned to the game. She’s expected to be fine.
The Illini are a good three point shooting team with the primary weapons being Simmons, the injured Rice and Brooke Kissinger.

Last time out: Illinois trailed Purdue by 17 early in the 3rd quarter before mounting a comeback and getting within three in the closing minute. For the game Purdue was held to two three pointers while the Illini hit six. Chatrice White led the Illini with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Boilermakers played man most of the game while the Illini mixed zone and man. The Illinois press helped fuel the comeback. If the Illini play man, Banham should have a good night.

Probable Starters:

C Chatrice White 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds
G Kyley Simmons 12.5
G Kennedy Cattenhead 6.1
G Sarah Hartwell 7.5
F Allex Wittinger 8.4

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/010516aad.html


1 The Gophers’ 98 points in Sunday’s win over Penn State were their most in a Big Ten game since 2003, and tied for their second-most in a conference contest since the Big Ten began supporting women’s basketball in 1981-82. Minnesota beat Michigan 98-70 on Jan. 2, 2003 and beat Purdue 115-88 on March 10, 1983. The Gophers have surpassed the 90-point mark in four games this season, including a 105-point game against Towson.

2 Carlie Wagner set new career highs with 32 points, 11 field goals and six 3-pointers against Penn State. Through two Big Ten games, she is averaging a league-best 27.0 points per game. Overall, she is second on the team at 19.7 points per game. Wagner’s 30-point effort was the second by a Gopher this year, as Rachel Banham scored an even 30 against Maine. Minnesota had five 30-point performances last season: two by Banham, two by Amanda Zahui B. and one by Shae Kelley
 



Banham needs to step it up on the road. This is a winable game.

They are passing and playing the transition game well so far tonight. It's fun to have our famous ex-Lynx player Katie Smith as one of the announcers
 

They are passing and playing the transition game well so far tonight. It's fun to have our famous ex-Lynx player Katie Smith as one of the announcers
Yes, it is.
Gophers looking great!
 


The gals are playing well. Edwards showing some promise.
 

Gophers should offer free admission to Sunday's game for anyone holding a Vikings vs Seattle ticket on same day.....:)

Might as well get the pub anyway you can!
 

Gophers should offer free admission to Sunday's game for anyone holding a Vikings vs Seattle ticket on same day.....:)

Might as well get the pub anyway you can!

I love that idea. We are going to thaw out and hope we see two W's that day. Banham finishes with 39, 10/15 from 3 and the team scores 19 3's. Go Gophers!
 




As expected, the Illini could not guard Rachel one on one-but 39 points (10-15 from three! At the other end of the court, Stollings seemingly surprised the Illini by beginning the game in an aggressive man defense. It started looking like a good night when Rachel threw the nice assist to a cutting Edwards and Jessie finished the layup. It ended as a record breaking night.

The last good memory of a Gopher win in Champagne was Kiara Buford hitting a late three to decide the game in 2009-it's nice to have a new one-or at least 19 new ones.

Starters:

Wagner
Bailey
Banham
Starr
Lamke

Minutes Played (for the first time this season everyone played:

33 Wagner
29 Banham
28 Bailey
27 Mullaney
20 Starr (It’s great to see Allina running the break or leading the break)
20 Edwards
18 Hedstrom
11 Lamke (Special thanks for bouncing White around the paint)
6 Barnes
3 Johnson
3 Buckingham
2 Garven
 

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010716aaa.html

The records: (It was really nice to see Mullaney's buzzer beating three end a near perfect first quarter).

Rachel Banham scored 39 points and set a program 3-point record as the Golden Gophers earned their first win at Illinois in six years. Banham drained 10 of her 15 3-point attempts in the 106 Minnesota (10-4, 2-1 Big Ten) win, and the Gophers tied the conference team record with 19 total 3-pointers.

The 39 points tied a career high for Banham. She led six Gophers in double figures. Carlie Wagner had 16 points. Mikayla Bailey, Shayne Mullaney and Jessie Edwards had 11 each and Joanna Hedstrom had 10. It was the first time in 10 season that the Gophers had six players reach 10 points.

The Gophers shot 50 percent for the game, including 19 of 39 (48.7 percent) from 3-point range. Minnesota’s point total was its second-highest ever in a conference game.
 


Props to Banham. She really stepped up. Michigan has a great freshman that might be one and done after this year.
 



Props to Banham. She really stepped up. Michigan has a great freshman that might be one and done after this year.

Unless the freshman is an international, she has to be at least 4 years out of HS to go to the WNBA. Otherwise Brianna Stewart would have left UConn 2 years ago.
 





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