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Badgers look to continue streak

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Also by Jonah Braun:

Badgers look to continue streak (February 28, 2008)
UW picks right time to get hot (February 22, 2008)
UW keeps on rolling, tops IU (February 21, 2008)
Integrity not Sampson's concern (February 21, 2008)
Badgers have trouble stopping opponent inside (February 15, 2008)

by Jonah Braun

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Hoping to continue its four-game winning streak, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team goes on the road to face the Michigan Wolverines Thursday. After winning all three games in arguably its toughest stretch of the season, the Badgers (15-11, 8-8 Big Ten) hope to keep their hot play going as they travel to Crisler Arena.

In their game last Sunday, the Badgers shocked Minnesota on the road at Williams Arena by beating the Golden Gophers 59-57. With the win, the Badgers moved to 8-8 in the Big Ten, reaching the .500 mark for the first time this season. When it plays Michigan (16-10, 9-7), Wisconsin hopes to gain a winning record in the conference en route to a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

“We’ve been paying attention to the little things that will help us win games,” senior guard Janese Banks said. “We want to keep fighting and put ourselves in a situation to get us a first-round bye in the (Big Ten) Tournament and have good energy and momentum.”

Paying attention to precise details has indeed been a key factor for the Badgers. Of their eight losses in the Big Ten, only three of them have been by more than double-digit margins.

Against Michigan, the Badgers will look to count on their defensive effort to avoid another tight game.

“We have to get out to their shooters,” Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said. “We’ve got to play solid defense, box out and rebound.”

In their last game against Michigan on Jan. 17, the Badgers had a sure victory in hand when sophomore Rae Lin D’Alie made a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining. However, Michigan came back when 6-foot-6 sophomore center Krista Phillips made a long shot from nearly half court to force the game into overtime.

In the extra period, UW was outplayed and lost 79-73. Even prior to the game-tying shot, though, the Badgers led by double digits before letting the Wolverines back in the game.

“By winning this game (against Michigan), it would make what we accomplished last week that much more powerful,” freshman forward Tara Steinbauer said. “I think that it will give us the right kind of momentum. … I think we need that and everyone recognizes that.”

To avoid something similar to that January game, the Badgers hope to not be in the same situation at the end of the game. Instead of hoping to make a last-second shot, Wisconsin will look to dominate from the start.

“We want to put ourselves in a position where when we get out to a lead, we take it and build on it,” Stone said. “We don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we can give them a chance to get back into the game.”

Against Michigan, the Badgers will be matched up against a powerful post presence of Phillips and forward Carly Benson. A key for the Badgers will be shutting down the Wolverines’ post play similar to the way they stopped Minnesota’s.

“Danielle (Ward) has been playing at a really high level,” Banks said. “If she’s playing and being active, then she’ll give Phillips a run for her money. … Phillips is gonna score some buckets, but I think Tara, Mariah (Dunham) and Britney (Heins) can defend them.”

In its last game against the Wolverines, Wisconsin looked unprepared to stop Phillips and Benson inside and was forced into a close game at the finish. Stone said her team knows what to expect this time around.

“We have a much better understanding of personnel this time,” Stone said. “We know who’s a driver and who’s a shooter. … As soon as they catch the ball we know what they’re going to do. We need to be more anticipatory this time — we need to be more reactionary.”

While their overall record is not too impressive, the Badgers are 7-2 over their last nine games and have been arguably the hottest team in the conference.

“We definitely have to keep fighting,” Banks said. “We can’t be getting complacent because we’re still playing for something. … Those three wins last week don’t do us any good if we don’t win these next two.”

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