Gameday preview: Gophers women's basketball vs. Memphis
December 12, 2015 at 2:06AM
2 P.M. VS. MEMPHIS • Williams ARENA • BTN PLUS (stream) , 1500-AM
Gophers update: Saturday's game is the second in a five-game home stand for the Gophers (5-2), who have won all three home games this season. Guards Rachel Banham and Carlie Wagner are combining for 44.7 points per game, making them the second-highest-scoring duo in NCAA Division I. Banham (24.3 points per game) is one of two players in the nation who has scored more than 20 points per game this season. The Gophers are averaging 10.7 three-pointers, first in the Big Ten; they set a program record with 16 in the season opener against Wofford. Banham, who was named to the Naismith Trophy watch list this week, will be honored in a pregame ceremony for breaking the program's career scoring record last month. Previous record-holder Lindsay Whalen will be there.
Memphis update: The Tigers (4-4) will seek their first road victory of the season after losing at Kansas and Little Rock and have lost three of their past four games. Senior guard Ariel Hearn leads the Tigers with 14.5 points per game and has made a team-high 15 three-pointers this season. Head coach Melissa McFerrin was an assistant coach for the Gophers in 2002-04, and she was an assistant at Ohio State 1993-95, when Gophers coach Marlene Stollings played for the Buckeyes.
RACHEL BLOUNT
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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.
