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The University of North Dakota women's basketball team put themselves on the national map by making the Division I NCAA Tournament for the first time ever last season. But it was not the success of last year that led to the University of Minnesota making a special trip to Grand Forks.

Curtis Loyd, father of UND standout Mia Loyd, was on the coaching staff at the U of M for four seasons before joining the Indiana staff this year. It was during his time with the Gophers that the UND-Minnesota 2 for 1 deal came to the front court. UND played in the Twin Cities last year and will again in 2015, but in the middle is tonight's historic matchup with the Golden Gophers visiting Grand Forks.

Tonight's game marks the first time in UND's history that a team from the Big Ten will march into town for a women's basketball showdown. Apparently, the community is well aware of the magnitude of tonight's contest. Head Coach Travis Brewster said yesterday there are only about 150 tickets remaining - and those are sure to be snatched up before tip-off.

A sold out crowd should be in store for a terrific matchup to boot. Minnesota comes in at 8-1 and UND has won 7 straight to a 7-1 start for their season. But regardless of the outcome, this will be one for fans to remember because if it took 40 years for the Big Ten to make one trip to Grand Forks - it may be awhile before another comes this way again in the future.