7 p.m. vs. Michigan State • Big Ten Network, 88.5-FM
Preview: The Gophers (11-10, 2-6 Big Ten) have lost three of their past four games and at the halfway point of the Big Ten season are in 12th place. The Spartans (14-7, 4-4) have been without coach Suzy Merchant since Jan. 17, when she went on medical leave. The team is being run by assistant Amaka Agugua. Michigan State broke a three-game losing streak on Wednesday at Wisconsin. The last time these teams met (Feb. 21, 2016, in East Lansing), they combined for 220 points. The Spartans are the only Big Ten team to beat Maryland or Ohio State this season. They beat the Buckeyes 94-75 in East Lansing.

Players to watch: Michigan State's Tori Jankoska (22.0) and the Gophers' Carlie Wagner (20.1) rank 2-3 in the Big Ten in scoring. Jankoska scored a school-record 42 points against Ohio State on Jan. 10 and in that game became the school's all-time leading scorer. Wagner is averaging 25.4 points and shooting 51 percent from the field in the Gophers' past five games.

Numbers: Jankoska is a 91 percent free-throw shooter and averages 7.7 rebounds per game as a 5-8 guard. … The Gophers are 13th in the Big Ten in scoring defense, giving up 74.3 points per game.

Staff reports