University of Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (18-4, 6-4 B1G) continues conference play on the road as it faces No. 1/1 UCLA (20-0, 8-0 B1G). The Golden Gophers and Bruins will tip off on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. CT at Pauley Pavilion. The game will be live on Big Ten Network, while Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist will broadcast it on KFAN+.

Minnesota (18-4, 6-4 B1G) vs. No. 1/1 UCLA (20-0, 8-0 B1G)

TV: Big Ten Network (Ann Schatz, Elise Woodward)

Tip Time: 2 p.m. CT

Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)

Location: Pauley Pavilion

About the UCLA Game

• Minnesota and UCLA are meeting for the fourth time, and the first time as conference opponents, with an all-time record of 1-2in the series that began in 1979. Minnesota last beat UCLA in the NCAA Tournament first round, 92-81, on March 21, 2004. Sunday’s game will be the first time Minnesota plays at Pauley Pavilion.
• As a team, the Bruins rank No. 1 in the Big Ten and in the top five in the NCAA in rebound margin (16.3), field goal percentage (49.5%), rebounds per game (45.3), and assists per game (21.3).
• UCLA is led by Lauren Betts, who is the top player in the conference in field goals (163) and blocks (54). She ranks third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (64.2%) and fifth in the Big Ten in total points (378).
• Other notable players for the Bruins include Kiki Rice (13.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, shooting 55.7%) and Gabriela Jaquez (10.2 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 56.3%). Rice also ranks first in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (78/26).
• The Bruins are coming off their 20th consecutive win this season after defeating No. 14 Maryland, 82-67, on the road.
• Betts had a season- and team-high 33 points against the Terrapins, while Rice followed with 19 points.
• USC (9-0) and UCLA  (8-0) are the two remaining undefeated teams in Big Ten Play.

Gopher Notables

• Minnesota set a program record with 12 nonconference wins, surpassing the previous high of 11 set in seven different seasons, most recently in 2018-19.
• This is the first time since 2011 that Minnesota will play the No. 1 ranked team in the country. They lost to No. 1 Baylor, 60-89 (12/4/11).
• After securing her second double-double against Wisconsin, junior Mallory Heyer recorded another noteworthy performance against No. 4 USC. The forward had 17 points, seven rebounds, and was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, shooting 71.4%.
• Senior Sophie Hart recorded her second straight game scoring double-digit points. Against the Trojans, Hart scored a career-high 18 points. She also had eight rebounds and shot 53.3%.
• Freshman Tori McKinney ranks second in the Big Ten and 25th in the NCAA in free throw percentage. The guard is shooting 88.7% and has gone 55-for-62 from the line. McKinney also holds the No. 1 spot for all-time Minnesota freshman free throw shooting percentage. 
• Junior Amaya Battle ranks in the top 10 in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (No. 6, 91/45), assists (No. 5, 91), and assists per game (No. 9, 4.1).
• Sophomore Grace Grocholski ranks 14th in the Big Ten in three-pointers made per game, averaging 1.82.

By the Numbers

• 800: Minnesota is eight wins away from a program record of 800 victories.
• 400: On Jan. 5, 2025, head coach Dawn Plitzuweit secured her 400th career win over Big Ten opponent Illinois.
• 28: The Gophers’ NET ranking is No. 28; they’ve stayed in the top 30 since Dec. 28, 2024.
• 4: The Maroon & Gold rank No. 4 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (368 assists, 217 turnovers).
• 2: Minnesota is the top-ranked team in the Big Ten and second in the nation in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 9.9 per contest.