MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) opens the Big Ten season against No. 7 Maryland (10-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon. Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Sunday on Big Ten Network with Lisa Bluder and Sloane Martin. Fans can listen on KFAN+, with Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on the call.
Minnesota (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 7 Maryland (10-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
TV: Big Ten Network (Sloane Martin – play-by-play, Lisa Bluder – analyst)
Tip Time: 3 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Williams Arena
Promotions: Free Goldy belt bags for the first 250 University of Minnesota students
STARTING FIVE
- The first NET rankings of the 2025-26 season were released Monday, and the Golden Gophers came in at No. 17. Minnesota is one of 10 Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 NET rankings.
- Minnesota returned home Monday night after three road games and defeated Samford 77-40. Three Gophers scored in double figures, led by Sophie Hart with 17 points, followed by Tori McKinney’s 13 and Niamya Holloway’s 10.
- Hart recorded the first double-double by a Gopher this season. In addition to her 17 points, she grabbed 10 rebounds. It marked the third straight game in which the center has had 10 or more boards.
- Through the first eight games, Hart is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, and leads the Gophers in rebounding at 6.5 per game. Hart has nearly doubled those averages from last season, when she posted 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
- Minnesota’s defense held Samford to three points in the first quarter and nine in the first half, the fewest allowed to an opponent this season.
- McKinney leads Minnesota with 13.2 points per game and is shooting 53.6% from the field. Against Samford, the sophomore set season highs in field-goal attempts (11), assists (4), steals (4) and blocks (2).
- In addition to Holloway’s season-high 10 points Monday, she matched her career high in field goals made with five.
- Mara Braun has 978 career points and needs 22 more to reach 1,000.
SERIES HISTORY
- Minnesota trails the all-time series 1-15, going 1-5 at Williams Arena, 0-1 at neutral sites and 0-9 in College Park.
- The Gophers last defeated Maryland in 2015, winning 77-73 when the Terrapins were ranked No. 22/23.
- Last season, Minnesota fell short 99-92 on the road against the Terrapins. Four Gophers scored in double figures, including a game-high 19 points from Amaya Battle.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
- The Terrapins are ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press poll and No. 6 in the USA Today Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
- Maryland has four scorers averaging double figures led by Oluchi Okananwa (13.7), Kaylene Smikle (13.1), Addi Mack (11.1), and Yarden Garzon (10.6).
- The Terrapins head into Sunday’s game after coming off a 92-44 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday.
