Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, January 8
Minneapolis, Minn.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Minnesota
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Heads North Thursday To Battle Minnesota
1/7/2026 10:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
‘Cats, Golden Gophers to meet for the 81st time
EVANSTON, Ill. (January 7, 2026) – Northwestern (6-9, 0-4 B1G) continues a stretch of three games in six days on Thursday evening as it treks north to visit Minnesota for a 7 p.m. CT tip-off inside Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern turned in a gritty defensive effort, forcing No. 14 Iowa into a season-high 20 turnovers, as it fell to the visiting Hawkeyes, 67-58, last Monday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
For the third time in as many games, Grace Sullivan led the 'Cats, pouring in a game-high 28 points, in addition to seven rebounds and a career-best four steals. Against Big Ten Conference opposition, Sullivan is averaging 29.5 points while shooting just under 60 percent from the field.
Casey Harter joined Sullivan in double figures, knocking down three triples as part of an 11-point showing. Harter, who also collected six rebounds, was the only player on either team to play all 40 minutes. Caroline Lau dished out five assists to move into sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time leaderboard in the category with 542 career helpers.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota (10-4, 1-2 B1G) returns to its home floor following a 70-60 defeat at the hands of No. 9 Michigan this past Monday in Ann Arbor, Mich. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for third-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's team.
Minnesota boasts the nation's top scoring defense, allowing a Division I-best 51.4 points per game. The Golden Gophers limit opponents to a 34.5 percent clip from the field, a mark that leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks 12th nationally.
Following a sophomore campaign in which she led Minnesota in scoring, two-time All-Big Ten pick Grace Grocholski has averaged a team-high 13.5 points across the Golden Gophers' opening 14 games, scoring in double figures in 10 contests. The versatile junior guard erupted for 27 points in Minnesota's victory in Evanston last season. Tori McKinney (12.4 ppg) and Mara Braun (11.1 ppg) also average north of 10 points per game, while Amaya Battle ranks inside the top 10 on the Big Ten's rebounding chart, pulling down 7.6 rebounds per game (7th).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Minnesota will meet for the 81st time on Thursday evening in a series that traces its roots back to a 73-68 Wildcat victory on February 11, 1977. Back-to-back victories by the Golden Gophers, including an 87-82 triumph last season at Welsh-Ryan Arena, have seen Minnesota even the all-time series at 40-40 (.500).
Northwestern's last victory on the Williams Arena hardwood came on January 9, 2020 when Lyndsey Pulliam converted as time expired to secure a thrilling 56-54 victory. Abi Scheid paced the 'Cats in the win with a game-high 24 points.
UP NEXT
Northwestern begins a two-game homestand on Sunday, January 11, playing host to Rutgers in a 2 p.m. CT matinee inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern turned in a gritty defensive effort, forcing No. 14 Iowa into a season-high 20 turnovers, as it fell to the visiting Hawkeyes, 67-58, last Monday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
For the third time in as many games, Grace Sullivan led the 'Cats, pouring in a game-high 28 points, in addition to seven rebounds and a career-best four steals. Against Big Ten Conference opposition, Sullivan is averaging 29.5 points while shooting just under 60 percent from the field.
Casey Harter joined Sullivan in double figures, knocking down three triples as part of an 11-point showing. Harter, who also collected six rebounds, was the only player on either team to play all 40 minutes. Caroline Lau dished out five assists to move into sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time leaderboard in the category with 542 career helpers.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota (10-4, 1-2 B1G) returns to its home floor following a 70-60 defeat at the hands of No. 9 Michigan this past Monday in Ann Arbor, Mich. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for third-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's team.
Minnesota boasts the nation's top scoring defense, allowing a Division I-best 51.4 points per game. The Golden Gophers limit opponents to a 34.5 percent clip from the field, a mark that leads the Big Ten Conference and ranks 12th nationally.
Following a sophomore campaign in which she led Minnesota in scoring, two-time All-Big Ten pick Grace Grocholski has averaged a team-high 13.5 points across the Golden Gophers' opening 14 games, scoring in double figures in 10 contests. The versatile junior guard erupted for 27 points in Minnesota's victory in Evanston last season. Tori McKinney (12.4 ppg) and Mara Braun (11.1 ppg) also average north of 10 points per game, while Amaya Battle ranks inside the top 10 on the Big Ten's rebounding chart, pulling down 7.6 rebounds per game (7th).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Minnesota will meet for the 81st time on Thursday evening in a series that traces its roots back to a 73-68 Wildcat victory on February 11, 1977. Back-to-back victories by the Golden Gophers, including an 87-82 triumph last season at Welsh-Ryan Arena, have seen Minnesota even the all-time series at 40-40 (.500).
Northwestern's last victory on the Williams Arena hardwood came on January 9, 2020 when Lyndsey Pulliam converted as time expired to secure a thrilling 56-54 victory. Abi Scheid paced the 'Cats in the win with a game-high 24 points.
UP NEXT
Northwestern begins a two-game homestand on Sunday, January 11, playing host to Rutgers in a 2 p.m. CT matinee inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Players Mentioned
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