Badgers no match for Wolverines on road
With a 75-55 loss to Michigan (11-13, 4-7), the UW women’s
basketball team (8-13, 2-9) extended its losing streak to four
games and fell to 10th place in the Big Ten.
Unable to earn a victory in Ann Arbor, the Badgers failed to
avenge a 63-60 loss to the Wolverines at the Kohl Center earlier in
the season.
“We didn’t battle it and want it like Michigan wanted it this
time,” UW head coach Lisa Stone said. “I thought it would be an
opportunity for payback, but it just wasn’t that way.”
Wisconsin came out firing, opening a 10-4 lead in the first four
minutes of play. After the strong start, Wisconsin suffered a
five-minute scoring drought and Michigan capitalized with a 13-0
run to take a 17-10 lead with 11:10 remaining in the first
half.
Forward Kjersten Bakke came off the bench to end the Badgers’
scoring drought and reenergize the UW offense. Bakke scored a
career-high 10 points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds,
including five offensive boards.
Guard Ashley Josephson knocked down a three-pointer to cut
Michigan’s lead to 27-21 late in the first half, but a late run
gave the Wolverines a 33-23 halftime lead.
In another strong performance, Josephson led the Badgers with 20
points on 8-18 shooting. The sharpshooter played 38 minutes,
leaving the floor for just two minutes of game time.
“I took Ashley aside after the game, [and told her] that she is
doing everything I ask her to do,” Stone said. “She comes every
day; she plays 40 minutes a game; she steps up to the plate, and
she knocks shots down. She can’t do anything else.”
Despite Josephson’s impressive performance, Wisconsin could not
overcome the dominant play of Michigan’s Jennifer Smith and Tabitha
Pool. Smith recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 boards,
shooting 7-17 from the field and 8-13 from the free throw line.
Pool scored a game-high 25 points on 11-16 shooting and grabbed
seven rebounds.
“She is a very fine player,” Stone said of Smith. “Once we
sandwiched her, we sandwiched her good in the second half, but
things changed, and Tabitha Pool took off.”
With Pool and Smith leading the way, the Wolverines opened a 22
point advantage and cruised to a decisive victory.
In a losing effort, guard Stephanie Rich matched her season high
with four three-pointers, scoring 14 points on 5-17 shooting. The
Badgers’ floor general rested for just one minute of action,
playing an impressive 39 minutes.
After the Badgers turned the ball over 18 times in the loss,
Stone stressed her team’s need to tighten up its game.
“We do not take advantage of things that we are capable of
handling,” Stone said. “Things that are in our control, we need to
do a better job of taking care of.”
Compiled from staff reports