The UW women’s basketball team (8-11, 2-7) will complete the second leg of its road trip as it remains in the state of Michigan to face the pesky Michigan Wolverines (10-12, 3-6) Sunday in Ann Arbor. Redemption will be on the minds of the Badgers who were upset by the Wolverines in Madison 63-60, just over two weeks ago.

“Right now our incentive is to put a ‘W’ on the board,” UW head coach Lisa Stone said. “Regardless of what happened in the past, it doesn’t make any difference to me.”

UW let a golden opportunity slip away after being up five with just two and a half minutes remaining in the game. Michigan however scored the game’s final eight points, while the Badgers missed their final three shots and committed two turnovers.

Michigan junior forward Tabitha Pool hit what proved to be the game-winner with just 30 seconds left. Stephanie Rich had a chance to give the Badgers their third straight home win but she overlaid a wide open lay up on the game’s final possession and Michigan escaped the Kohl Center confines with a win.

Since defeating the Badgers, Michigan has lost three straight games, including a heartbreaking two-point loss at home to Ohio State, 51-49. Michigan now stands a game above Wisconsin in a two way tie for seventh place with Indiana.

Wisconsin, like Michigan, has not been able to put many wins on the board since the teams’ last meeting. UW rebounded after the Michigan loss to trounce last place Northwestern 69-53, but has also fallen on tough times as of late. Wisconsin has had a string of three ranked opponents on its schedule but has yet to knock one off.

“I feel that every game that we enter I really believe that we can win, no matter who we play,” Stone said. “We’ve demonstrated our ability to rise up against some tough teams and defensively we’re matching the game plan.”

If the Badgers are to claim a victory over the Wolverines they will need to keep senior center Jennifer Smith in check this time around. Smith scorched the Badgers for a game-high 32 points back in January and was nearly unstoppable, going 10 for 14 from the floor.

Smith is currently tied for the Big Ten scoring lead along with Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante at 21.5 points per game. Smith had her way with the Badger post players and with a variety of post moves in her arsenal either got an easy basket or went to the free throw line. Wisconsin senior post player Lello Gebisa would foul out of that game, while fellow post Emily Ashbaugh was one foul away from disqualification.

Smith is even stronger at the charity stripe, making her opponents pay by hitting 83-percent of her free throws, good for fifth in the Big Ten. Against Wisconsin Smith was a perfect 12 for 12 from the line. She proved to be the difference in the game, as Wisconsin was able to keep Michigan’s other scoring threats Tabitha Pool and Stephanie Gandy from hurting the Badgers offensively. Both had 11 points, but were only a combined 8 of 30 from the floor, and committed six turnovers.

The Badger defense has been solid all season and held both Minnesota and Purdue to an average of 58.5 points. While defense has not been problem, the Badgers are still searching for ways to put points on the board. The Badgers are putting up just 57.5 points of their own, good for only tenth in the Big Ten.

“We’re trying to find some consistency right now,” Stone said. “Defense is there, effort is there, rebounding is there. We’re having trouble putting points on the board. You’re not going to win games in the Big Ten scoring 48 points.”

Scoring droughts have plagued the Badgers in their recent losses and have given their opponents an opportunity to run away with the game. Wisconsin has especially struggled to score in the opening moments of the game, and surrendered an 8-0 run to Purdue and a 10-0 lead to Iowa out of the gates.

The Badgers will also have to control the boards, as they were outrebounded 36-30 against Michigan in their last meeting. Wisconsin is currently fourth in the conference in rebounding margin, with Michigan close behind at sixth. Defense has been what has kept the Badgers in games against nationally ranked opponents, but the team will need more offensive production to put a ‘W’ in the win column and improve on its current ninth place conference standing.