Preview: Minnesota Visits Rutgers in Big Ten Women’s Basketball

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — The surging Minnesota women’s basketball team looks to extend its winning streak when it visits struggling Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup Sunday at Louis Brown Athletic Center.

The Golden Gophers (17-6, 10-3 Big Ten) enter on a five-game winning streak, most recently outlasting Iowa 91-85 on Thursday behind 21 points from guard Grace Grocholski. Minnesota has won eight of its last nine, with the lone loss in that span coming on the road at Washington.

Rutgers (9-14, 2-11) seeks to halt a four-game skid, having lost those contests by an average of 28.5 points. The Scarlet Knights are coming off an 86-46 defeat at UCLA on Wednesday.

Sunday’s game features a stark contrast in momentum. Minnesota’s offense has averaged 84.2 points during its current streak, while Rutgers has failed to reach 55 points in any of its last four outings.

A key matchup will be Minnesota’s Grocholski against Rutgers’ Zachara Perkins. Grocholski, a dynamic scorer, is averaging 16.1 points over her last eight games, including a 25-point performance in a win over Southern California. Perkins has been a consistent contributor for the Scarlet Knights, scoring in double figures in four straight games, including 13 points and four assists against UCLA.

Minnesota won the first meeting this season, 79-47, in Minneapolis on Jan. 8. The Golden Gophers’ defense held Rutgers to 27.9% shooting in that contest.

For Rutgers, a return home offers a chance to reset. The Scarlet Knights’ last victory was a 76-72 road win at Penn State on Jan. 18. They will need to find offensive production beyond Perkins to challenge Minnesota’s balanced attack, which features multiple scoring threats like Mara Braun and Tori McKinney.

The Golden Gophers continue a challenging stretch of road games, while Rutgers looks to salvage its season by pulling a conference upset.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST Sunday.