Wisconsin Suffers 56-46 Loss at MSU
December 31, 2006 | Women's Basketball
The Wisconsin women's basketball team (12-3, 1-1 Big Ten) suffered a 56-46 loss at No. 21 Michigan State Sunday at the Breslin Center. Juniors Jolene Anderson and Janese Banks each scored 12 to lead the Badgers against their first-nationally ranked opponent of the year.
UW's 46 points marked a season-low but both teams had strong defensive efforts as Wisconsin limited Michigan State to just 27.4 percent (17-of-62) shooting from the field, a season-low for Badger opponents. In comparison, the Badgers managed to shoot just 30.4 percent (17-of-56). Junior Danielle Ward aiding in the scoring effort for Wisconsin with 10 points, eight of which came in the first half.
The biggest inconsistency of the game came in the fouls column. Michigan State scored 19 points from the free throw line on 25 attempts. Meanwhile, Wisconsin shot just 8-of-12 from the charity stripe. The Badgers seemed to be in foul trouble for most of the game. Banks would eventually foul out with 4:08 to play in the game while three players, Rae Lin D 'Alie, Mariah Dunham and Anderson, each committed four fouls.
The Badgers also were outrebounded for the first time all season by a 49-40 mark that included a seven carom discrepancy in the second half. The Badgers did have a season-high 11 blocks including five by Ward and career-high four by Mariah Dunham.
UW opened the second half with seven straight points to take its largest lead of the game, 28-25, with 18:32 left. MSU responded to regain the lead 45-34 for its largest lead of the game with 8:07 left. UW came within four, 47-43, on a Banks layup off her own steal with 5:38 left. She fouled out with four minutes to go. Wisconsin had several attempts in the last two minutes but was 0-for-5 in field goal attempts.
'If you look at the start of the second half we had three freshmen out there in a huge environment, in a place that is going to host the NCAA tournament,' Lisa Stone, Wisconsin head coach, said. "What a great experience. I am so proud of our kids. They really worked hard defensively. I give them credit. They dug down and fought through and overcame as much as they could.'
Shooting just 8-of-27 for 29.6 percent in the first half, the Badgers fell behind early allowing the aggressive Spartans to build a 23-14 with 6:43 left in the first. Mariah Dunham, who had her first start on the season, sparked a Badger comeback hitting a 3-pointer with 4:59 left and making some key defensive plays. The Badger defense, which forced 11 first-half Spartan turnovers, also held MSU without a field goal and only two free throws the last 6:45 as UW closed within 25-21 at the break.
Anderson was limited to just 2-of-10 shooting in the first half. Ward led UW with eight first half points, but was undercut on a rebound and couldn't finish the half due to injury.
'We were right where we wanted to be at halftime, and Jolene (Anderson) and Janese (Banks) hadn't really scored yet, and Danielle (Ward) gets hurt.' Stone said. 'We were right in the hunt.
Michigan State (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) had four players reach double figure scoring, led by 6-9 freshman Allyssa DeHaan who had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The Badgers play in Minneapolis at 2 p.m. CST next Sunday (Jan. 7) against the Gophers of Minnesota in the first of two Border Battle matchups this season. The game will be televised live in Wisconsin on Fox Sports North Wisconsin, and tape delayed on Fox Sports North Minnesota on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. CST.
