In a break from Big 10 action, Minnesota will host nearby North Dakota State tonight. Not only are six Bison from Minnesota and they have former Gopher Cara Pearson as a second year assistant coach, but the game is one of the closest NDSU has had to travel.

The Bison will log more than 28,000 miles this season. After winning five NCAA Division II national championships and finishing as national runner-up in 2004, North Dakota State embarked on a new challenge a year ago moving up to the NCAA Division I ranks. This has the Bison traveling all over for games this season.

The Gophers will play in Fargo next season and the Bison will be back in Minneapolis in the 2007-08 season as part of this agreement.