Gophers-Northwestern women's basketball game preview

2 p.m. vs. Northwestern • Williams Arena • No TV, 1500-AM

Gophers at a glance: Minnesota (11-5, 0-2) returns home after a foul-filled, 78-71 loss at Iowa on Wednesday, and the Gophers simply need to catch a break. After some uncharacteristically poor shooting from stars Rachel Banham and Amanda Zahui B. led to their Big Ten–opening loss to Michigan State on Jan. 4, the Gophers were whistled for 24 personal fouls against Iowa, the Hawkeyes for just 11. Three Gophers fouled out, including Zahui B., who picked up her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds. … Overshadowed in the loss was a brilliant, slump-busting game for Banham. The junior point guard finished with 32 points and was 4-for-8 from three-point range. … Senior Sari Noga made five three-pointers against Iowa, and is 12-for-23 from behind the arc in her past four games.

Wildcats at a glance: A young, talented Northwestern (11-4, 1-1) squad comes to the Barn today following a 71-68 win over No. 20 or 21 Purdue behind sophomore Maggie Lyon's 20 points on Thursday — the team's second win over a ranked team this season. … Hopkins High grad Nia Coffey is one of three freshmen in Northwestern's starting five. … The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Gophers 32-28 and won the most recent meeting, 70-63 on Feb. 17 last season at Williams Arena.

BRYCE EVANS