Minnesota and head coach Dawn Plitzuweit opted to put UMass transfer guard Alexsia Rose into the starting lineup and make his first start in a Gophers uniform. McKinney has starte

Over a nine-day stretch, Gophers women’s basketball freshman Tori McKinney has set a career high in points against Penn State, followed by a career high in assists at Wisconsin, followed by an 11-point fourth quarter that helped the Gophers rally past Illinois at Williams Arena on Sunday.

After scoring double digits in nine of her last 11 games, including a team high of 25 points against Penn State, Minnesota freshman guard Tori McKinney has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. The weekly award marks McKinney's first from the Big Ten and her second of the season.

Grace Grocholski stayed in the middle of matters until her late free throws settled it, and Tori McKinney also came up big in the fourth quarter.

Grocholski added seven rebounds, three assists and three assists, and Mallory Heyer finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Gophers moved to 3-1 in the Big Ten and 15-1 overall, the program’s best record since the 2003-04 Final Four team started 15-0.