Badgers Open Season With Exhibition Victory
November 02, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Despite a slow start, the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team posted a 77-58 victory over UW-Stevens Point Thursday night at the Kohl Center. Janese Banks (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team with 17 points and 5 steals.
Veterans Danielle Ward (Milwaukee, Wis.), Caitlin Gibson (Jefferson, Wis.) and Jolene Anderson (Port Wing, Wis.) helped Banks lead the team to a victory, each scoring in the double digits.
Fans were able to see a glimpse of the future with all seven freshman entering the game, five of whom saw significant playing time. Teah Gant (Oswego, Ill.) lead the freshman with eight points and one block, while freshman teammate Mariah Dunham (Watertown, Wis.) tallied six points and three steals.
'I love the fact that our new players bring tremendous energy and tremendous talent,' said head coach Lisa Stone. 'They're very exciting and they're very, very coachable.'
The Badgers did not start out strong, trailing 19-6 less than eight minutes into the game. Wisconsin began the half shooting a mere 24 percent, but with the starters back on the court, UW was able to cut the Pointers' lead down to seven.
Freshman guard Sarah Ingison (Roseville, Minn.) showed comfort in running the point. Ingison helped spark the Badger offense to pull within four points of UW-Stevens Point with less than six minutes remaining in the half.
Wisconsin lost its momentum and dropped 10 points behind UW-Stevens Point. Anderson showcased her talent, helping the Badgers come back to just a two-point deficit (34-32) at the half.
The Badgers were able to turn their game around in the second half. Ward sank a jumper from the top of the key to put the Badgers up 35-34, their first lead of the game.
Wisconsin held the Pointers to just one point in the opening five minutes of the second half, after UW-Stevens Point shot more than 70 percent from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Badgers held on to their lead as the game began to get physical with less than 15 minutes remaining in the game. Banks, who was 5-of-6 on shots, forced a steal and came back with an easy lay-up to bring Wisconsin's lead to 10 points.
With three minutes remaining in the game and a convincing 19-point lead, Stone put in freshmen walk-ons Ericka Engen (McFarland, Wis.) and Ann Crangle (Piedmont, Calif.). Sophomore Christine Spencer (Traverse City, Mich.), who is currently recovering from an injury, was able to get on the court as well.
'I thought this game was exactly what it's supposed to be. It 's a game where you get challenged. I think it's a great opportunity to play an organized, very traditionally successful team, and get a lot of people in the mix, ' said Stone. 'You saw four freshmen out there an awful lot today and for them to get their feet wet was a good experience.'
The Badgers wrap up their exhibition schedule on Sunday, taking on Winona State at 1:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
