As many UW-Madison students debate skipping their classes on Wednesday and prepare to return home for Thanksgiving and some delicious holiday meals, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (2-2) is getting ready for a series of three games in four days.

In the midst of a two-game losing streak that includes a 26-point loss on the road to in-state rival UW-Green Bay and an overtime heartbreaker at home to the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge, the Badgers look to get back on track Wednesday at the Kohl Center versus Marquette (4-0).

The Golden Eagles come to Madison without a clear leader on the offensive end of the floor. Much of Marquette’s scoring has been by committee, as four different players are averaging double figures on the season.

Despite the lack of an offensive superstar, Marquette will come to Madison averaging 75 points per game, 12 more than the Badgers’ 63. The Golden Eagles have also been especially efficient on the defensive end of the floor. They are holding opponents to a mere 47.5 points per game which has allowed them to have an average margin of victory near 28 points.

Marquette has already downed one Big Ten opponent in the Michigan Wolverines, but this is the Golden Eagles’ first trip away from their home floor at the Al McGuire Center. Wisconsin leads the all-time series 11-6, beating Marquette three out of their last four meetings. The Badgers haven’t been defeated in Madison by the Golden Eagles since 2003.

Wisconsin was graced with the senior-standout Alyssa Karel’s return to the floor against Kansas on Sunday, and it appeared the Badgers would finally be at full strength heading into the holiday weekend. Unfortunately senior forward Lin Zastrow, who has played extremely well averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds per game, was injured against Kansas, and according to head coach Lisa Stone, is day-to-day.

Players like freshman guard Morgan Paige had to step in for Karel and now others will have the same opportunity filling in for Zastrow.

“Lin is one of the best post defenders in the conference,” Stone said. “Cassie Rochel is going to have to play right now. [The] 6′ 5″ freshman is going to get baptism by fire. She has to play right now with [Zastrow] being out. I believe it really helped Morgan Paige in our early games without having [Karel] out there, and I’m hoping it has the same effect on [Rochel].”

Junior forwards and two of the more experienced role players, Ashley Thomas and Anya Covington, will also be expected to increase their production while Zastrow is sidelined.

Following Wednesday’s game against Marquette, the Badgers will have to jump on a plane to California for the Concord Hilton Thanksgiving Classic tournament. The Badgers will play the BYU Cougars (1-2) on Friday and then tournament host, Saint Mary’s (2-2), on Saturday.

Like Wisconsin, the Cougars have had a challenging schedule to start the season. BYU opened the season with two losses on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium against No. 6 Duke, who the Badgers play on December 2, and the University of Chicago, Illinois. The Cougars got their first win against the University of Washington at home on Saturday.

In the win against Washington, the Cougars were paced by redshirt freshman, Stephanie Vermunt, who scored 17 points in 20 minutes of play that included 4-of-6 shooting from outside the three point line.

The Badgers will look to improve their own three-point shooting in their efforts to win over the weekend. Wisconsin has shot 4-of-18 from downtown in their last two games despite getting good looks at the basket.

“You can think about it or you can worry about it, you have a choice,” Stone said. “I am going to be optimistic and think that we are getting those open shots, [and] we are going to start knocking those down.”

Saint Mary’s comes into the tournament fresh off a tough one point loss to No. 21 Nebraska. The Gaels are led by several key players that will pose a good challenge for Wisconsin. Redshirt junior, Jasmine Smith is leading the team in points, scoring 16.5 per game. Saint Mary’s also boasts reigning West Coast Conference Defender of the Year, senior forward Louella Tomlinson, who is averaging a double-double with 10.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Following a couple of setbacks in the last two games, the Badgers know how important it is to play well over the holiday break, and it all begins with the Golden Eagles.

“The ‘believe’ is there,” Stone said. “To get on track you gotta win, and we gotta beat Marquette on Wednesday.”