Game 8  ·  American (2-5, 0-0 PL) vs. Minnesota (6-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019  ·  2 p.m.  ·  Washington, D.C. (Bender Arena)
All-Time Record: Minnesota leads, 1-0

WASHINGTON - The American University women's basketball team (2-5) returns home for the first time since November 18 on Sunday, as the Eagles are set to host Big Ten foe Minnesota (6-1) at 2 p.m. in Bender Arena.

SERIES HISTORY

• Minnesota claimed the only game in the young series on November 11, 2008, in Minneapolis, 79-62. 

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• American is looking to pick up its first win since the late battle over High Point, 56-48, on Nov. 18. The Eagles enter the weekend off four-straight losses, including two last weekend against Saint Joseph's and Buffalo at the Hawk Classic in Philadelphia.
• Sophomore Jade Edwards continues to pace the team, averaging a league-high 17.4 ppg after earning her third +20-point performance of the season with 21 against Saint Joseph's. She followed that up with her first double-double of the season, third of her career, with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Buffalo.
• Senior Kaitlyn Marenyi is the only other player averaging in double-figures with 11.7 ppg. One of the most efficient three-point threats in recent history for the Eagles, she leads the Patriot League with 2.7 made three's per game. 
• Junior Indeya Sanders continues to be one of the biggest threats on the defensive end, averaging 1.1 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. She is the only player in the Patriot League to lead her team in both blocks and assists (4.3 per game), and is the only player to rank within the top six of the league for blocks, steals, and assists per game.
• The Eagles rank 25th in Division I for fewest personal fouls per game, averaging only 14.3 per game and allowing opponents only 11.2 free throws.
• American is averaging 60.3 ppg off 40.5 percent shooting from the floor, 27.5 percent from three, and 73.7 percent from the line. The Eagles' opponents are averging 66.3 ppg after the first seven games of the season.

THE HOME COURT ADVANTAGE 

• The Eagles are on a 41-6 run at home since the start of the 2016-17 season. 
• AU built up one of the top-ten home win streaks in Division I last season at 23 consecutive games (6th in the country) before losing to Ohio on Dec. 29 (77-67). 
• In the Megan Gebbia era, the Eagles are 70-22 (.761) in Bender Arena, including 53-12 (.815) against Patriot League opponents. Among the highlights in her six seasons was the program's first undefeated season at home since the 1970s two years ago. 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS 

• Minnesota is in its second season under head coach and five-time All-WNBA selection, Lindsay Whalen. 
• The Golden Gophers opened the season with six consecutive games at home, losing only to Missouri State in the season opener, 77-69, before claiming five straight, including an 80-66 win over No. 19/18 Milwaukee. 
• Minnesota is coming off its first road game of 2019-20, battling to a 75-67 win over Notre Dame during the B1G/ACC Challenge on December 4. 
• Gadiva Hubbard paced the team with 20 points against the Irish while Taiye Bello picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds. She also earned her 100th career block with five. 
• Destiny Pitts and Jasmine Brunson rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points and 13 points, respectively. 
• The Golden Gophers shot 38.9 percent from the field (28-72), 37.5 percent from three (12-32), and 70 percent from the line (7-10). 
• Bello is the only Big Ten player, and one of only 32, currently averaging a double-double with 13.0 ppg and 10.7 rpg.
• All five starters are averaging in double-figures, starting with Pitts at 15.3 ppg. Bello is next with her 13.0 ppg followed by Hubbard (12.4 ppg), Jasmine Powell (10.9), and Jasmine Brunson (10.6). 
• Minnesota is averaging 80.4 pg to its opponents' 63.6 ppg and has shot 42.9 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from the perimeter, and 79.7 percent from the line so far this season. The Golden Gophers rank fifth in Division I with only 11.0 turnovers per game and a +10.71 turnover margin. They are 11th in the country for assist-turnover ratio (1.34) and 26th for forced turnovers (21.71).
• Minnesota continues to receive votes in both the AP and Coaches Polls after opening the season ranked 23rd in the AP Preseason Poll. 

For the latest on American University Women's Basketball, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WBasketball) and Instagram (@auwbasketball).

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS

• General admission season tickets are $80 for adults and $50 for youth (17 & below) / seniors (65+).
• Full exchange for games you cannot make – as well as discounts, and special benefits throughout the year. All season ticket holders receive priority ticketing for all non-Patriot League postseason tournament games.
• Purchase online at AUeagles.com/Tickets

GROUP TICKETS

• Available for purchase for groups of 10+ and 40+. Tickets start at just $2.

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS

• Available for purchase now to all home games starting at $5 per ticket.
  Purchase online at AUeagles.com/Tickets

AU STUDENTS

• Undergraduate, graduate, and Washington College of Law (WCL) students are admitted free of charge to all home basketball games with a valid AU ID.

For further inquiries on season ticket packages, mini-plans, group, or individual game tickets, call (202) 885-TIXX(8499) or e-mail clawed@american.edu. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Bender Arena Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For further updates, news, and to purchase tickets, visit AUeagles.com/Tickets.