Preview: This game had been scheduled for Jan. 11, but it was postponed after Northwestern player Jordan Hankins died at age 19 on Jan. 9. A memorial service was held Wednesday. Both teams played Saturday and play again Thursday; for Northwestern (17-7, 6-5 Big Ten), which has lost two in a row, it makes for three road games in six days. The Gophers (13-12, 4-8) beat Rutgers 80-46 at home Saturday, marking their fewest points allowed under coach Marlene Stollings.

Players to watch: Gophers G Kenisha Bell scored 19 points Saturday, going 11-for-12 on free throws; the Gophers were 27-for-34 on foul shots overall. Bell is averaging 16.7 points per game, second on the team to Carlie Wagner's 19.4. Wagner has struggled the past two games, shooting a combined 6-for-34. … Northwestern senior F Nia Coffey (Hopkins), the daughter of former Gophers player Richard Coffey, shot 3-for-13 and was held to nine points in Saturday's 66-38 loss at Indiana. The 2016 first-team All-Big Ten pick is leading the Wildcats in both scoring (18.5 average) and rebounding (11.0 per game). The other Northwestern player from Minnesota is freshman F/C Abi Scheid (Elk River), who is averaging 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds over 21 games.

Numbers: With four games left in the regular season, the Gophers have yet to play a Big Ten game decided by single digits. They went to overtime at Nebraska but won 79-69.

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