MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Wisconsin women's basketball team (12-12, 5-9 B1G) is set to play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-10, 5-9 B1G) in the teams' second meeting of the season Tuesday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. from the Williams Center and the game can be streamed live on Big Ten Network or listened to on 1070 WTSO-AM.
Here are five things to know before the Badgers matchup against the Golden Gophers:
1. STIFLING OPPONENTS: Wisconsin has made big strides on the defensive end of the floor this season. After allowing 72.6 ppg a year ago, the Badgers are holding opponents to just 67.2 ppg in 2023-24. Wisconsin has also been stifling shooters, holding the opponent field-goal percentage at 39.4%, down from 43.0% a year ago, which is currently leading the Big Ten.
2. LEUZINGER LIGHTING IT UP: In her first season as a starter for the Badgers, Natalie Leuzinger averaged 8.1 points through the first 13 games in the season. Leuzinger's scoring dropped off a bit in early January, but she showed off her sharp shooting skills once more as Wiscosnin played Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 17. Leuzinger made three triples in the first half against the Scarlet Knights, tying her career-high in made three pointers. The senior played with a great confidence in this game, and notched 13 points, tied for her third-highest point total of the season.
3. BALANCED BADGER OFFENSE: In Wisconsin's 61-43 victory over Rutgers, four Badgers scored in double digits. Serah Williams (17 points), Brooke Schramek (14 points), Natalie Leuzinger (13 points) and Ronnie porter (11 points) combined for 55 points and shot a combined 60.0 percent in the contest.
4. HISTORY WITH MINNESOTA: Wisconsin and Minnesota are set to face off for the 87th time in each program's history. Minnesota leads the all-time series 47-39 and is 21-15 when playing Wisconsin at home. Despite claiming more overall wins, the Badgers have bested the Gophers as of late. Wisconsin has won the last three games dating back to Jan. 8 of last season. Most recently, the Badgers defeated the Gophers, 59-56, inside the Kohl Center on Jan. 23, 2024. In this contest Williams delivered her fifth-straight double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Tessa Grady had a breakout game to accompany Williams' scoring, notching five three pointers and tying her career-high in points with 15.
5. SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS: Minnesota is 5-9 in the Big Ten, tied with Wisconsin for 10th in the conference. The Gophers are coming off their first win in the month of February, an 88-63 over Northwestern at home last Saturday, Feb. 17. Minnesota has the third strongest defense in the Big Ten, giving up an average of just 63.3 points per game. The team is led in scoring by Mara Braun, who averages 17.8 points per game, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten. The sophomore also ranks third in the conference in three-pointers per game with an average of 3.0 and has a conference-leading free throw percentage, shooting 95.0 percent. Braun is currently on the bench due to injury. Freshman Grace Grocholski is second on Minnesota in scoring with an average of 11.7 points per game to go with an average of 2.4 triples a contest, fifth in the Big Ten.
