6 p.m. at Michigan State • No TV, 96.7-FM
Either Gophers or Spartans will get first 2019 victory tonight
Preview: Both teams are looking for their first victory of the new year (game will be livestreamed on BTN Plus). The Gophers (12-2, 1-2 Big Ten), who fell six spots to No. 18 in the latest Associated Press poll Monday, are coming off a 66-62 loss to Illinois on Sunday at home. It was the first home loss of the season for the Gophers, who led by 10 going into the fourth quarter. Michigan State (11-3, 1-2) is coming off a 68-64 loss at Indiana on Sunday. The loss was the second consecutive for the No. 23 Spartans, who had an eight-game winning streak stopped by Northwestern on Jan. 3. The Gophers defeated the Spartans 83-77 last season in Minneapolis.
Players to watch: G Kenisha Bell has 1,400 career points for the Gophers after scoring 14 on Sunday. She has moved into 12th place on the Gophers career scoring list. G Jasmine Brunson scored a career-high 17 points and C Annalese Lamke 18 on Sunday. C Jenna Allen, a 6-4 senior, leads the Spartans in scoring (15.9) and rebounds (7.9). G Shay Colley, a junior who missed six games earlier because of an undisclosed injury, has returned and is averaging 13.1 points. F Nia Hollie, a junior from Hopkins, has started two games and is averaging 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Numbers: The Spartans are second in the Big Ten in scoring (82.3 points per game). Gophers F Taiye Bello has had at least 10 rebounds in 10 games. She is averaging 12.9 per game.
joel rippel
