It’s a six game-winning streak at stake for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team as they return back to Williams Arena after a pair of road wins in the last week. Minnesota takes on a dangerous Nebraska team who while they have dropped three straight games to Big Ten foes in the NET Top-20, could easily pull out a win tonight if the Gophers do not bring their A game. Tip off is set for 7PM and will air live on Big Ten Network.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Record: 16-8 (5-8)
NET Rank: 25
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 18-6 (9-4)
NET Rank: 10
KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN:
Keep Britt Prince in Check:
Nebraska has other scorers, but guard Britt Prince is the straw
that stirs the Cornhusker drink. She can score in all three phases hitting 55.2 percent (158-286) of her field goals, 49.3 percent (33-67) of her three-point attempts and 93.5 percent (72-77) of her free throws. She is a perfect 52-52 from the stripe in Big Ten play while also ranking ninth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.5 ppg) and 13th in assists (4.3 apg). She owns eight 20-point efforts, including a pair of 30-point games this season. So yes. Minnesota needs to shut her down. That job will likely fall to a combination of Amaya Battle and Tori McKinney who are the Gophers best perimeter defenders. If Minnesota can keep Prince from a big game, they should win their 7th consecutive game.
Get Grace (Re-) Going:
Grace Grocholski has erupted into a star for the Gophers this season. She nearly matches Prince’s numbers shooting 49.8% from the field, 46.3 from 3-point range and 82.3% from the free throw line. She has led this Gopher team to many of their huge victories this season. But she struggled mightily in Minnesota’s win last Sunday at Rutgers. Grocholski was a combined 0-10 from the field in the win and did not get to the free throw line once, ending scoreless for the first time since the third game of the 2024-25 season. As she goes, often so goes the Gophers. Hopefully back home at the Barn shooting on a familiar hoop she can find her shot again and help Minnesota get past the Huskers.
Do The Little Things:
Minnesota NEEDS to rule the boards and the paint. Nebraska lacks size and is the second worse rebounding team in the Big Ten. Minnesota needs to rule the rebounds and both limit any second chance kickouts from Nebraska, but also get their own second chance opportunities and let Sophie Hart and Finau Tonga eat. The Gophers protect the ball by far the bet of anyone in the conference. Nebraska is not sloppy, but does average four more turnover a game than Minnesota. That needs to ring true tonight. Keep the Huskers off of the stripe. They are the second best free throw shooting team in the Big Ten—Minnesota is 12th. Play smart defense but not sloppy defense.
Prediction:
Nebraska dominates weak teams but struggles against better opponents. They also come in just 1-5 on the road this season with their lone win coming at last place Penn State. If Minnesota can play like they usually do at The Barn, they should pull out another huge win that will get them one spot closer to perhaps the coveted Big Ten Tournament Double Bye. Minnesota wins this one 79-71.
Next Up:
Minnesota heads to Madison for a huge rematch vs Wisconsin at 5 PM Sunday.
