Gophers-Wisconsin women's basketball preview

About the Gophers: The No. 12 Gophers, 9-0 at home this season, will try to win their 12th straight game vs. the Badgers. The team's current win streak is the fifth longest in program history and the longest since the Gophers — led by current coach Lindsay Whalen — started the 2003-04 season 15-0. The Gophers won both games vs. Wisconsin last season by an average of 17.5 points. Gophers forward Taiye Bello is second in Division I in offensive rebounds per game (5.6) and fifth in total rebounding (13.4). She is the only player in the country with four games of 18 or more rebounds. G/F Destiny Pitts has hit on 51.5 percent of her three-pointers (17-for-33) in the past four games. G Kenisha Bell is coming off a season-best 28 points vs. Rhode Island. She also had nine assists and seven rebounds.

About Wisconsin: The Badgers, 9-3, are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season. Wisconsin has already equaled or bettered its win total from each of the past four seasons. The Badgers approach is rather similar to the Gophers, relying on strong defense and rebounding. The Badgers are holding opponents to 53.4 points per game, tied for 15th best nationally, and sixth in rebounds per game (48.3). Leading the way are forwards Marsha Howard (13.8 points, 9.9 rebounds) and Imani Lewis (12.7, 8.4).

KENT YOUNGBLOOD