The Wake

And the list goes on and on for Gophers’ hoops star Lindsay Whalen. The senior guard surpassed Carol Ann Shudlick’s career-scoring record with one of her seven three pointers in the Gopher women’s loss against Michigan State January 25.

Whalen, a senior from Hutchinson, MN, should be used to personal accolades and achievements by this point in her career. Before the start of this season, Whalen was named to the prestigious Wooden Women’s Award Preseason All-American list with the other top 29 women ball players in the country. Last season, she collected a Kodak first team All-American honor along with a second team AP All-American award.

The sports management major also won a gold medal with the USA Young Women’s Team in Croatia last summer. But, like many stars, Whalen doesn’t let personal recognition interfere with the success of the team. In order to be a leader, players have to be on the court. Whalen has played in 102 consecutive games through February 1st and leads the Gophers in scoring at 21.4 points per contest, according to gophersports.com.

The Gophers have a 17-3 record and are looking to make a realistic run at the Final Four. For this to happen, Whalen and the Gophers have to continue their consistent play against a tough Big Ten conference into the tournament. The combined record of the remaining Gophers’ Big Ten opponents is 77-61 overall through February 3, but each team comes to play every night in the Big Ten, so the Gophers can’t sleep on anybody.

And, in college basketball, senior leadership makes a difference come tournament time. The Gophers have no doubt where it comes from on their team: Number 13.