Badger Comeback Falls Short
December 13, 2006 | Women's Basketball
The Wisconsin women's basketball team (10-2) suffered its second loss of the season following 70-66 setback at in-state rival UW-Green Bay Wednesday in front of a record-setting crowd at the Resch Center. Jolene Anderson, who never came out of the game for head coach Lisa Stone, recorded her third double-double of the year. She finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
The Phoenix led by as many as 23 points midway through the second half. Wisconsin then went on a 24-5 run to end the game. During that span of 9:38, UW-Green Bay did not make another bucket from the floor, but instead converted five free throws. The 23-point deficit, however, was not enough for the Badgers to overcome.
Both UW losses this year have been by four points or less. The other was a two-point loss at UC Riverside.
'It was a great comeback for our kids,' Lisa Stone, Wisconsin head coach, said. 'We just dug ourselves too deep of a hole and you can't do that with a senior team like this. We showed a lot of character and I am very proud of our kids. Green Bay is a great team and this is not one to hang our heads on. We will take the positives away from this game.'
Junior Janese Banks scored 20 points for the Badgers. Banks and Anderson were the only two in double figures for Wisconsin.
The Badgers shot 42.2 percent (25-59) from the field in the game and hit just 55 percent (10-of-18) from the charity stripe. Wisconsin continued to outrebound every opponent on the year, however, owning a 41-29 advantage on the glass.
The win gave UWGB, who owns ranking of fourth in strength of schedule and an RPI of 14, a 3-0 mark over Big Ten teams this season. The Phoenix also defeated Minnesota and Iowa.
After early testing through four ties to open the game, UW-Green Bay found its stride outscoring the Badgers 13-3 to lead 23-13 with 9:46 left. The Badgers were scoreless for 4:33 during the run, but Jolene Anderson started a 7-0 scoring run to bring the Badgers within 20-23 with 8:50 remaining in the half.
Horizon preseason player of the year Nicole Soulis scored six of 10 points that put the Phoenix back up 33-20 with 3:49 left. The UWGB defense held the usually-potent Badger offense in check without a bucket for 5:23 during the run. Anderson broke the lull hitting for 2 of her 13 first half points. The Phoenix hit 55 percent while holding the Badgers to 37 the first half to lead 42-26 at the break.
Four players reached double digits for Green Bay, led by Soulis' 17 scores.
The game was played in front of 5,197 fans to mark a Resch Center record. It also was the largest crowd ever to watch a UW-Green Bay women's basketball game.
'I told the kids I remember my freshman year in college having an attendance of 22,' Stone said. 'I have high regards for Kevin (Borseth) and his program. Before the game he said, `Lisa, thank you for this.' The fans tonight witnessed a great comeback.'
The Badgers return home to the Kohl Center for a 7 p.m. matchup Friday with Harvard. It is the last game for Wisconsin before finals and the holiday break.
