Badgers Win Rebel Shootout
November 25, 2006 | Women's Basketball
The Badgers captured the championship of the Rebel Shootout with a 67-51 win over the host UNLV Rebels moving to 6-0 on the season. It is the best season opening under fourth-year coach Lisa stone, and the best UW record since the 1997-98 squad opened 9-0.
Stone was ecstatic with her team's win and the great start. "What a great win for our team and our program. The feeling in the locker room at the half was this team knew it could play better. Give UNLV credit, they rattled us a little bit and we played a little more undisciplined than normal in the first half. But we addressed that in the second half. Take care of the basketball, look for good shots, attack the basket, try and get it into the post."
The Badgers took control of the game early leading 7-4 with 18:02 remaining. UNLV 's leading scorer, Sequoia Holmes had seven of her first-half leading 11 points to give UNLV their greatest lead, 11-7 with 10:25 left. Holmes finished the with 13 points after being shut down by the UW defense.
With the scored tied eight times in the first half, the last at 21-21, the Badgers used a 9-1 run with two minutes left to create some space for themselves, 30-22. UNLV chiseled its way back into the contest hitting six-straight free throws on Badger fouls to allow UW just a 32-28 lead at the break.
Wisconsin used an 11-0 run to open the second half to lead 43-28 forcing two UNLV timeouts. The Rebels hit only one-of-two free throws in the first eight minutes of the second half. The Rebels went without a field goal for over 16 minutes from 7:24 of the first half until 10:38 in the second half. UNLV made a mini-run midway through the half coming within 45-34 with 10:08 remaining. But the Badger defense stiffened while UW 's offense found contributions from three double-figure scorers led by Janese Banks with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Jolene Anderson had her first double-double of the year and the 12th in her career with 13 points and 12 rebounds. After playing just five minutes of the first half due to foul trouble, Danielle Ward had a season-high 16 points, three steals and two blocks. All three juniors were named to the all-tournament team with Anderson the MVP. It is Anderson's second Thanksgiving tournament MVP. She and Banks were named to the Wahini Rainbow Classic all-tourney team last year in Hawaii.
Stone responded to the team's early turnovers. "We're going to have some ups and downs and we're on the road and it's a little scary. You have to rely on your upperclassman. We don't have any seniors so we rely on those juniors and boy did they step up."
The Badgers continue on the road to face UC-Riverside Tuesday at 9 p.m. CST before returning for two home games next weekend.
TEAM NOTES
' At 6-0, the Badgers have their best season opening under fourth year Coach Lisa Stone, and the best opening since 1997-98 when the team opened the season 9-0.
' UW defeated K-State 56-53 to earn a berth in the championship.
' Jolene Anderson has scored in double figures in 35 consecutive games and 60 of 63 career games
' UW is 7-6 in all tournament games under Stone
' Wisconsin is 6-0 when leading at the half
' Wisconsin is 6-0 when out-rebounding its opponent
' Wisconsin is 6-0 when outscoring its opponents bench
' The Badgers appeared in their third Thanksgiving tournament championship finals in four years under Lisa Stone. Stone's teams have placed first twice, second and fourth in Thanksgiving Day tournaments.
' Three Badgers were named to the Rebel Shootout All-Tournament team and Jolene Anderson was the MVP
Jolene Anderson - Wisc (MVP)
Danielle Ward - Wisc
Janese Banks - Wisc
Kimberly Dietz - KSU
Brittany Halberg, UNLV
