Minnesota has a 10-3 record in the 2005-06 season, including a 3-0 start in Big Ten play. The team has defeated San Francisco, Stanford, Nevada, Virginia, Nebraska, Washington State, Iowa State, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Indiana, while losing to New Mexico, South Carolina and Louisiana State. Minnesota has a 6-0 record at home during the season.

Head Coach Pam Borton is in her fourth year at the University of Minnesota, leading her squad to three consecutive 25+ win seasons. She has a 76-23 record at Minnesota, including a 145-69 overall record during eight seasons as a head coach. She’s proven to be excellent at keeping in-state talent at the university, with five Ms. Minnesota Basketballs on the 2005-2006 roster. She previously coached at Bowling Green University, the University of Vermont and Boston College.

Minnesota’s 2005-2006 roster includes 16 players: six seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen. Eight are listed at six feet or taller. Eleven players have seen action in the Golden Gophers three Big Ten games, with seven of them averaging at least 19.7 minutes per game. The starting five in each Big Ten game have been Jamie Broback, Liz Podominick, Shannon Schonrock, April Calhoun and Shannon Bolden.

In their three Big Ten games, the Golden Gophers have scored an average of 70.3 points per game while allowing 61.7. The squad makes 45.2% of its field goal attempts, including 48.7% from 3-point range. Thirty-nine of the team’s 155 shots are from behind the arc. The team also makes 74.3% of its free throws. They average more than 23 free throws per game.

Defensively, Minnesota’s Big Ten opponents shoot 38.1% from the floor and 34.8% from 3-point range. Minnesota outrebounds its opponents 39.3-31.3, but has a worse assist-turnover ratio. The Golden Gophers are 45/54 on the Big Ten campaign while opponents are 46/41. Even still, the squad allows only 61.7 points per game in Big Ten play.

Individually Kelly Roysland, Jamie Broback and Liz Podominick lead the Gophers on offense. They average 16.0, 12.0 and 11.3 points per game in Big Ten play, respectively. Roysland has connected on 53.8% of her field goal attempts, including a blistering 71.4% from 3-point range. She also has made 15 of 18 free throws for 83.3%. Broback is hitting 51.7% of her field goals and 71.4% of her free throws. Broback also leads the team in assists in Big Ten play (9) and is second in rebounds per game (7.7). Podominick makes 40.7% of her field goals and 73.3% of her free throws while leading the Gophers in rebounds per game (10.7) and tying for the lead in blocks (4).

Additionally, Shannon Schonrock averages 9.3 points per game, April Calhoun has a 7/3 assist-turnover ratio, Natasha Williams is tied for the team lead in blocks in Big Ten play (4) and Shannon Bolden is the Gophers’ best perimeter defender and will end her career as a three-year starter for the program.