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After dropping another game to Oklahoma State (8-0) yesterday and now trying to recover from a seven-game losing streak, Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach
Lisa Stone made it clear that the Badgers are staying optimistic.
Feeling the effects of a very difficult non-conference schedule, the Badgers now stand at 2-7 after a 50-42 loss to the Cowgirls, their second loss in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. However, Stone remains confident in her team and is not disregarding the Badgers’ high expectations coming into the season.
“We’ve had a very very rough schedule,” Stone said. “We are at full strength now, and … we’re looking forward to foraging forward. We’ve got to keep our noses up, and our chins up because this is a good basketball team. I believe in them, I know that we can get better, I know that we can shore some things up.”
Wisconsin continued to struggle with turnovers in their road game against Oklahoma State, committing 25 of them in the game and making it very difficult to come away with a win.
With no UW player putting up double figures in the game, Stone acknowledged that some changes need to be made to try to put an end to this losing streak. Stone noted that she will be giving some new players the chance to give the team the spark it needs.
“We’re looking for some leadership on the court right now, and we’re going to give Tiera a look,” Stone said. “Both Cassie Rochel and Tiera Stephen, you’ll see them start to emerge. We need to take a little bit more pressure off of Alyssa [Karel]. We’re going to look at some other kids too, and continue to get better, continue to be confident with the ball.”
Rochel, a 6-foot-4 freshman forward/center out of Minnesota, has seen limited action this year but will provide a post presence that could definitely help Wisconsin turn things around. Rochel should lessen the burden on senior forward Tara Steinbauer and help UW defend some of the strong inside players that the team has had trouble controlling throughout the year.
Stephen is a redshirt sophomore guard who transferred from Louisville and has also not seen much playing time this season. Stephen should help take the load off Karel, the star senior point guard who is undoubtedly one of the offensive leaders of the team.
Apart from these personnel changes, the team is also trying to instill a sense of confidence in its players to combat their struggles.
“The attitude of the team is very good in terms of the team, and the belief in that we can get this thing turned around,” Stone said. “What’s wavering right now may be their confidence, and that is something that we need to continue drill, and find success, have some fun, lighten it up a little bit.”
Stone also discussed Wisconsin’s game against Drake this Thursday. The matchup has special meaning for the Wisconsin coach as she was the head coach at Drake from 2000-2003. Reaching the Sweet 16 with Drake in the 2001-2002 season, the trip to a familiar arena will certainly bring back some good memories for Stone.
However, while Stone admitted she is looking forward to this homecoming, she was sure to point out that she is focusing on her own team rather than the past.
“It will be nice to be back and see some people. I’ve never been in… the visiting locker room, so that will be new,” Stone said. “It will be nice to go back, but right now it’s more about us. [We’re] playing a good team, they’re a very good team.”
Despite their recent struggles, Stone is optimistic that this is just a rough stretch for Wisconsin, one that will help them in the future. As the conference season starts up at the end of this month, the Badgers will need to start playing their best basketball if they hope to fulfill their lofty preseason goals.
“This storm that we’re in, we’re going to come out of it, and we’re going to be better for it,” Stone said. “And I believe that, and so does the team.”
