Gophers update: The Gophers may be looking to atone for last year’s conference regular-season finale, a 90-34 loss at home to Penn State that tied for the second-biggest margin of defeat by the program since the 1974-75 season. Backup center Annika Stewart leads healthy Gophers in scoring (11.7) and has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in five of 13 games. Freshman guard Tori McKinney has averaged 12 points, shot 51.6% overall and 45% on three-pointers in eight starts. Junior forward Mallory Heyer has scored in double figures in four of her past five games. In her past three, she has averaged 13 points, and seven rebounds, shot nearly 60% overall and made four of eight three-pointers.
Nittany Lions update: Much like the Gophers, it’s difficult to assess the Lions, considering only two of their nonconference opponents have winning records. After opening the season 8-0, Penn State has gone 1-3, with losses to St. John’s, Indiana and Kansas — teams with a combined 29-7 record. The loss to Kansas was by just three points. Sophomore 6-6 center Gracie Merkle is third in the Big Ten in scoring (20.3), shooting 66.9% and averaging 9.7 rebounds. On the outside, guard Moriah Murray (15 points per game) is shooting 42.7% on three-pointers and is first in the conference in threes made per game (3.7).
