In Wisconsin’s first conference battle of the year, Joe McKeown and the Northwestern Wildcats (6-3, 1-0 Big Ten) defeated Marisa Moseley’s Badgers (2-7, 0-1 Big Ten) 61-49 Sunday, Dec. 5.
Early on, the University of Wisconsin couldn’t buy a bucket, going 16.7% from the floor and 1-7 from distance for seven total points in the opening period of play. With Northwestern University hitting eight of 20 total shots, UW trailed 17-7 after the first 10 minutes of regulation.
Wisconsin’s offensive hardships extended into the second, and though the Badgers managed a 44.4% clip from the floor during the period, Moseley’s squad registered only nine attempts compared to 19 for the Wildcats.
Despite recording a sub-par 31.58% efficiency prior to halftime, the Wildcats capitalized on UW’s turnovers, increasing their lead to 15 by halftime.
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The Badgers picked it up following intermission with 44.4% shooting from the hardwood and a perfect 6-6 from the foul line. Wisconsin outscored NU 14-10 in the third quarter, holding their Big Ten opponent to 36.4% on 11 shots. Heading into the final period of regulation, the Badgers trailed by 11.
Foul trouble plagued Moseley’s group in the fourth — Northwestern scored 14 of their 18 fourth quarter points from the line during the last 10 minutes. Even though the Wildcats hit on 20% of their looks from the field, they shot 87.5% from the foul line, diminishing any hope of a Badgers comeback.
With only five student-athletes reaching the scoresheet, UW’s shortened rotation accounted for 23 turnovers and was outmatched 16-4 on the offensive glass. Northwestern logged 17 more shots than the Badgers, scored 21 points off turnovers and executed on 35.7% of its attempts from behind-the-arc.
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Badgers guard Julie Pospíšilová scored 12 points, grabbed six boards and dished out three assists. Despite her routine double-digit scoring performance, the junior racked up seven turnovers and shot 4-15 from the hardwood during her 36 minutes.
Surprisingly, UW’s leading-scorer, Sydney Hilliard, did not convert on any of her attempts, recording zero points for the first time this season. Sophomore Brooke Schramek added a team-high 18 points and snatched four rebounds across 33 minutes of action, and guard Halle Douglass secured all 10 scores for Wisconsin’s bench unit.
The Wildcats team captain Veronica Burton distributed a game-high six assists, garnered two blocks and gathered four swipes to go along with her impressive 12-12 mark from the charity stripe. Through 27 minutes, senior Courtney Shaw put up seven points and snatched 10 rebounds, while first-year forward Caileigh Walsh scored 14 points and shot 50% from the floor in her 18 minutes of action.
The Badgers return to the Kohl Center to face off against the ranked Michigan Wolverines on Thursday, Dec. 9.
