Starting Five: Badgers ready for Border Battle

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team (13-7, 5-4 B1G) are set for a border battle with the Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-6, 4-4 B1G) on Sunday, Jan. 25. Tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT and can be streamed on B1G+.

Here are five things to know before the Badgers face the Golden Gophers:

1. BADGER SPOTLIGHT:
Junior guard Destiny Howell has been a consistent scoring threat for Wisconsin, leading the team with 261 points this season, averaging 13.7 points per game. Howell is shooting 44.6% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range, pacing the Badgers from beyond the arc with 42 made three-pointers.

Gift Uchenna continues to make a strong impact on the defensive end, leading Wisconsin with 80 defensive rebounds and a team-high 28 blocks. She averages 1.4 blocks per game, ranking among the top five in the Big Ten, while also adding 6.5 rebounds per contest.

2. SCOUTING THE GOPHERS:
Minnesota enters this match up with a 13-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in conference play. Under head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, the Gophers are averaging 73.5 points per game and pulling down 40.4 rebounds per game.

Leading the offense for Minnesota is junior Grace Grocholski. She is averaging 32.3 minutes of playing time and shooting 50% from the field. On that shooting she is averaging 13.7 points per game and is bringing in an average 5.2 rebounds per game which is second highest on the team.

3. SERIES HISTORY:
Wisconsin and Minnesota have met over 80 times with the first meeting dating back to 1974. The Badgers trail 40-49 in the all-time series and last faced the Gophers in the 2024-25 season in Minneapolis.

4. LAST TIME OUT:
Wisconsin upset No. 24 Nebraska, 63-60. Gift Uchenna paced the Badgers with her third double-double of the season, tallying a season-high 22 points to pair with 14 rebounds - shooting 10-of-17 from the field. Kyrah Daniels chipped in 19 points and Ronnie Porter added 10 to round out the top scorers for UW in their upset win.

Wisconsin closed the game shooting 45.5% (25-55) from the field, 33.3% (6-18) from long distance and 77.9% (7-9) from the free throw line.

5. UP NEXT:
Wisconsin will stay on the road and face No. 12 Ohio State on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m. (CT) and will air on Big Ten Network or on the FOX Sports app.