The Terps host the Gophers.
No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball heads home for another difficult game in its recent gauntlet stretch of the schedule.
After a difficult loss last Wednesday to No. 4 USC, the Terps took down Wisconsin Saturday while being shorthanded. Now, Maryland has its eyes set on a second straight win, as the Terps host No. 24 Minnesota Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game will start at 7 p.m. and be televised on Big Ten Network.
“This is a game that’s going to be really important to continue to be able to try to separate yourself in this league night in and night out,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Minnesota is a really disciplined team. [They] don’t beat themselves.”
Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-1, 4-1 Big Ten)
2023-24 record: 20-16, 5-13
Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit is in her second season leading Minnesota. The Gophers only have one loss this season after going to the WNIT championship game last year. She previously coached at West Virginia and South Dakota, where she guided her teams to five NCAA Tournament berths across seven seasons.
The Gophers have played a relatively easy schedule en route to a 16-1 record. Minnesota’s only ranked opponent was then-No. 25 Nebraska, who beat Minnesota, 84-65.
Players to watch
Grace Grocholski, sophomore guard/forward, 6-foot-0, No. 25 — Grocholski has started every game for the Gophers in her 53-game colligate career. This season, she is averaging 10.7 points per game, which is a tick below her 10.8 points per game last season. She is also averaging 2.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.
She was named to the All-Big Ten freshman team last year.
Mallory Heyer, junior forward, 6-foot-1, No. 24 — Heyer has been a three-year starter for the Gophers since her arrival in Minneapolis. This season, she leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per game, after averaging 8.6 last year. She also averages 8.4 points per game.
Amaya Battle, junior guard, 5-foot-11, No. 3 — Battle leads the Gophers with 4.2 assists per game in her third season with the team. She also averages 9.6 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Last season, she was an All-Big Ten honorable mention, despite missing 16 games to injury. She has started every game this season.
Strength
Point differential. The Gophers have the fourth-best point differential in the Big Ten this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 25.8 points per game. Minnesota has a higher point differential than Maryland and rank only behind No. 1 UCLA, No. 4 USC, and No. 9 Ohio State in the conference.
Weakness
Efficiency. Minnesota is shooting 43.6% from the field this season, just the 13th-best mark in the Big Ten. The Gophers also rank eighth in the conference with a 33.5% 3-point percentage.
Three things to watch
1. Health. Maryland was without two starters against Wisconsin, as Saylor Poffenbarger was out with an illness and Sarah Te-Biasu was out with left ankle soreness. Frese confirmed that both are expected to suit up for the Terps on Tuesday against Minnesota.
“Saylor’s feeling a lot better, which I think you just saw with both of them, the impact that they bring to our team and what’s needed,” Frese said. “Sarah needed the extra rest on her ankle. I’ve been told she’s good as well. Optimistic that they’ll both play tomorrow.”
2. Could Bri McDaniel spark changes to the starting lineup? In her first start of the season, McDaniel had her best game of the year and led Maryland to a resilient victory. She posted 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Whether she remains in the starting lineup will be something to monitor.
“My first two years here, I’ve been like a bull running in on people. So I feel like just being very composed or very disciplined on the offensive end and defensive end, knowing that I can’t get those risky fouls,” McDaniel said. “I’ve just got to be able to stay in the game for a long time for us. Or just be very disciplined being a veteran and just showing that I can handle tough situations.”
3. How does Minnesota fair against the nation’s best? Minnesota had a strong record to the season, but has not faced many tough opponents. How well the Gophers play against Maryland will say a lot as to where they stack in the conference and nation.