Gophers' offense vs. Green Bay's defense in NCAA women's basketball tournament opener
March 15, 2018 at 11:26PM
4 p.m. vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay • Eugene, Ore.
TV; radio: ESPN2; 1500-AM
Offense vs. defense in Oregon
Preview: Fourth-year coach Marlene Stollings makes her second NCAA appearance and first since losing to DePaul in the first round in 2015. The No. 10 seed Gophers (23-8) enter the tournament ranking third nationally in scoring (85.2 points per game) only trailing Baylor (86.6) and Connecticut (88.8). But the No. 22-ranked and 7th-seeded Phoenix (29-3) lead Division I in scoring defense (46.1 points allowed), which allowed them to beat power conference opponents Wisconsin (67-34), Northwestern (63-57) and Marquette (63-55). The Gophers struggled against elite frontcourt players in the Big Ten tournament (Iowa's Megan Gustafson had 48 points and 15 rebounds, and Ohio State's Stephanie Mavunga had 26 points, 21 rebounds and seven blocks). Green Bay is led by senior forward Jessica Lindstrom, who averages 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with 63 three-pointers.
Players to watch: Gophers junior guard Kenisha Bell nearly had a triple-double in her last game, a loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten semifinals, with 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Green Bay senior guard Allie LeClaire was named Horizon League tournament MVP after scoring 24 points in the title game win against Wright State. LeClaire ranks second on the team with 14.3 points per game.
Numbers: The Gophers have two players on their roster with NCAA tournament experience. Both senior guard Carlie Wagner and senior center Bryanna Fernstrom, then with Iowa State, played in 2015.
MARCUS FULLER
about the writer
Minnesota’s bench scored 50 points, including a team-leading 18 points from graduate transfer Annika Stewart, showcasing the depth that coach Dawn Plitzuweit promised.
