#IUWBB Game 27 Preview: Minnesota

THE OPENING TIP
Indiana battles Minnesota on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET in Assembly Hall. The game can be heard on WHCC 105.1 FM with Greg Murray on the call. The contest can also be viewed as a live streamed broadcast on BTN Plus.

Indiana (17-9, 9-5) vs. Minnesota (18-7, 10-4)
Thursday, Feb. 18 • 7 p.m. ET
Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
Live Video: BTN Plus
Radio: WHCC 105.1 FM (Greg Murray)
GIVEAWAY: First 500 fans recieve an IU water bottle

DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana and Minnesota meet for the second time this season on Thursday as the Gophers edged the Hoosiers in Minneapolis on Jan. 17, 78-76.
• In the first meeting, IU took a 76-75 lead with a Karlee McBride layup with 38 seconds to go, Minnesota's Mikayla Bailey nailed a 3-point field goal on the next possession to give the Gophers the lead for good in the final seconds.
• Indiana and Minnesota are both riding four-game winning streaks heading into Thursday as IU has won seven of its last eight and the Gophers have won eight of their last nine contests.
• Minnesota sits one game ahead of the Hoosiers in third place in the Big Ten standings as IU is tied for fourth with Michigan State.
• IU's nine Big Ten wins this season are the program's most in a single year since 2008-09 (11) and the four-game conference winning streak is also the program's best since that season.
• The Hoosiers are a perfect 12-0 in games played in Assembly Hall, the best home start in program history as IU is the only team in the Big Ten with an unblemished home record this season and is just one of 19 teams nationally without a home defeat (as of Feb. 11).
• IU's 9-5 record in Big Ten play is the program's best start through 14 games since 2005-06.
• Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents this season, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in a single regular season in program history.
• This year marks the fourth time in program history and the first time in 18 years that Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents during regular season play. IU downed three ranked teams during the regular season schedule previously during 1985-86, 1993-94 and 1997-98.
• Tyra Buss led Indiana with 24 points against Wisconsin and has now scored in double figures in 30 straight games dating back to last year, the longest such streak for an IU players since 1998.
• Buss leads the Big Ten and is third nationally in free throws made (165) with the second-most free throws made by a player in the conference this season being 127.
• Amanda Cahill has eight double-doubles on the season, the most by an Indiana player in a single season since 2008-09. For the year she is averaging 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 231-155 (13th year)
Indiana Record: 32-25 (2nd year)

Minnesota
Marlene Stollings
Career Record: 92-59 (5th year)
Minnesota Record: 41-17 (2nd year)

MINNESOTA AT A GLANCE
Minnesota arrives in Bloomington having won four straight games and eight of its last nine contests. The Gophers rank fifth in the country in scoring (83.0 ppg) and leads the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (224) and attempted (64) as well as 3-pointers made per game (9.0). Rachel Banham has been on fire for the Gophers, scoring 32 or more points in each of the last three games, including an NCAA record tying 60-point performance at Northwestern on Feb. 7. She is third in the country in scoring (26.4 ppg) and 3-point field goals made per game (3.44) and is fourth in 3-pointers made (86). Her backcourt mates, Carlie Wagner (19.3 ppg) and Shane Mullaney (10.1 ppg) both score in double figures as well for the Gophers.

BEST BIG TEN START THROUGH 14 GAMES SINCE 2005-06
The Hoosiers currently hold a 9-5 record in Big Ten play so far this season. That record is the program's best conference start through 14 Big Ten games since Indiana started 9-5 in league play in 2005-06.

THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana is a perfect 12-0 so far this season in games played inside of Assembly Hall, marking the best home start ever in program history. The Hoosiers are the only team in the Big Ten to have yet to lose at home this season and one of just 19 teams nationally without a home loss. Home wins this year have been highlighted by seven Big Ten victories, knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

MOST BIG TEN WINS IN SEVEN YEARS
With Indiana's win over Wisconsin on Feb. 14, it gave Indiana its ninth Big Ten victory on the season, marking the program's most wins in conference play since 2008-09. IU's current four-game Big Ten winning streak is also the program's longest since that 2008-09 season when the Hoosiers won four-consecutive games in Jan. 2009.

COMEBACK KIDS
Seven times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including five games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana has outscored Big Ten opponents 297-234 (+63) in the fourth quarter this year.

• Feb. 4 vs. Iowa*: The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before rallying to down the Hawkeyes in Assembly Hall, 79-74. Iowa led Indiana, 54-37, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. IU outscored the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to take the win. Trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, IU hit 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) field goals in the final period, including four 3-pointers without a miss, to outscore Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.

*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter

GET ON THE BUSS
Indiana sophomore Tyra Buss has scored 850 career points to become just the eighth player in program history to ever eclipse the 800-point mark in freshman and sophomore seasons played at IU.

With her 24 points in the win over Wisconsin, Buss has scored in double figures in every game this season and in 30 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (18.8 ppg), assists (4.5 apg) and steals (2.0 spg) while playing 37.3 minutes per game (3rd in B1G, 19th nationally) and 971 minutes played total (1st in B1G, 5th nationally). She also adds 5.1 rebounds per game as she's tallied 20 or more points in 12 contests.

In three games in the last month, Buss has achieved a double-double and just missed another vs. Wisconsin. She now has four career double-double performances. Against the Badgers, her stat line read: 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, 11-of-11 from the free throw line.

Buss leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally in free throws made (165) and second nationally in attempts (208). Her 165 free throws made is 38 more than the second-best total in the Big Ten (Kelsey Mitchell, OSU - 127). With her 11 free throws made vs. Wisconsin, Buss now is tied for third in program history for most free throws made in a single season. Her 208 free throw attempts rank fifth in Indiana history for most attempts in a single season. She has connected on 38 of her last 41 free throw attempts (92.7 percent).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE VISION
Four times this season, Indiana has had two players achieve double-doubles in the same game, marking the first time IU has had two players have double-double performances in four or more contests since 2006-07 when it happened five times that season.

In the win at Illinois on Feb. 10, Amanda Cahill and Kym Royster each achieved double-doubles as Cahill tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds with Royster finishing with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
Against Nebraska on Feb. 7, Tyra Buss (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Cahill (16 points, 14 rebounds) each had double-doubles. At Northwestern on Jan. 24, both Buss (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Cahill (20 points, 11 rebounds) had double-double performances. Cahill (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Alexis Gassion (13 points, 13 rebounds) each had a double-double in the win over Samford on Dec. 11.

REBOUNDS = Ws
In five of the last seven games (at Northwestern, Rutgers, Iowa, Nebraska, at Illinois), the Hoosiers have outrebounded the opposition. Twelve times total this year, the Hoosiers have outrebounded an opponent. IU is currently 11-1 in games in which it outrebounds its foe as Indiana picked up other wins winning that category against Tennessee State, Chattanooga, at IPFW, Samford, Yale and Michigan.

CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Amanda Cahill had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the road win at Illinois on Feb. 10 for her eighth double-double of the season, the most by an IU player in a single year since 2008-09 (Whitney Thomas, 10). She's had double-double performances in two of the last three games, including 16 points and a season-high 14 boards in the victory of Nebraska on Feb. 7.

In Big Ten games only, Cahill is averaging 15.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, making her one of only five players in the conference to average those numbers in league play so far. For the year, she is averaging 14.6 points (22nd in B1G) and a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game (7th) with 1.3 steals per contest. She is shooting 51.1 percent (13th) from the field while leading the team in shooting 39.7 percent (10th) from 3-point range.

Cahill has scored in double figures in all but two games this year, including the last 19 consecutively, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three.

CASHING IN ON THE FREE ONES
Indiana leads the Big Ten in free throws made (416) and attempted (565) and ranks second nationally in free throw makes and seventh in attempts. IU is outscoring opponents 416-230 (+186) from the charity stripe so far this season, a plus-7.2 margin of free throws made per game. The Hoosiers have made more free throws than opponents have attempted (348) while shooting 73.6 percent as a team from the line.

In the win over Rutgers on Jan. 27, Indiana shot a season-best 90 percent from the charity stripe, nailing 18-of-20 free throws. Against No. 18 Michigan State on Jan. 13, the Hoosiers hit 27-of-34 free throws as Indiana is 5-0 when it gets to the free throw line 30 or more times in a game this year. In the overtime win against Michigan on Jan. 3, Indiana nailed 32-of-42 free throws, marking the most free throws made and attempted ever in a Big Ten game in program history. Those free throws were the most makes and attempts from the line for an IU team since the Hoosiers shot 34-of-50 from the charity stripe against UAB on March 21, 1991.

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Players Mentioned

Tyra Buss

Amanda Cahill

Alexis Gassion

Karlee McBride

Kym Royster

Indiana University Athletics