Photo by: Jack McLaughlin
Badgers shoot red hot against the Blugolds
November 11, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Trio of seniors lead Wisconsin to home exhibition win
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team downed UW-Eau Claire, 69-49, on Wednesday night in the final exhibition game of the season.
The team looks to continue to play the way they played tonight as the regular season begins on Saturday.
"One of the biggest things for us this year is finishing games," senior guard Nicole Bauman said.
"There were a lot of games last year where we would be in it until the end, and somehow we would just either lose energy or the other team would step up more than we did and we would just lose the game."
Leading all players tonight was senior Dakota Whyte, who collected 18 points and three rebounds on the night. Whyte just nearly matched her career high of 20 points.
Bauman also had a big game offensively as she started off the night firing. She went 5-for-5 in the first half alone, and picked up 15 points and four rebounds on the night.
Tessa Cichy rounded out the trio of leading seniors as she tallied nearly a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Badgers snatch the win. The three seniors scored in double figures in both of the Badgers' exhibition wins.
"It started with Dakota and Tessa and Nicole on the defensive end, and then others came in and did a nice job," head coach Bobbie Kelsey said."There's always something to learn but we're very happy with our effort and our energy."
The Badgers concluded the first period on top, as both teams worked to get their offenses firing from the get-go.
The Blugolds got on the board first with a pair of free throws, but Bauman was quick to answer with a layup of her own. After back and forth lead changes, the Badgers, paced by four 3-pointers, headed into the second quarter on top, 18-12.
Continuing the scoring offense, Bauman began the second quarter with a quick 3-point basket to lay the foundation for the Badgers for the rest of the quarter. The Badgers went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead, 25-14, until it was ended by Eau Claire with jumper. Â
The Badgers enjoyed a 9-0 run to further extend the lead, 34-16, following a layup from Cichy. The combination of Whyte, Cichy and Bauman sealed the deal for the Badgers in the first half, as their combined 16 points ensured Wisconsin's 36-19 lead at half.
Following halftime, Cichy continued her momentum to put up a quick jump shot to start off the third quarter. Still rolling with the momentum, Cichy grabbed a rebound and found Whyte down court, who turned and took a short jumper for two, completing the 4-0 run for the Badgers and giving them a 40-19 advantage.
Wisconsin allowed a short 6-0 run from the Blugolds, but came back strong with the second 9-0 run of the game. Bauman and junior Avyanna Young had one and two layups, respectively, while Cichy ended the run with a 3-pointer to bring the Badgers up further, 49-25.
After an Eau Claire basket, the Badgers turned around and went on a 6-0 run from sophomore Cayla McMorris and Whyte to close out the third quarter as they led the Blugolds, 55-27.
Young began the fourth quarter for the Badgers by sinking a free throw, but the Blugolds quickly answered the momentum with a 3-pointer. Not ready to give in, Cichy switched the momentum immediately with a matching 3-pointer to bring the Badgers up, 59-30.
After a pair of Blugold free throws, senior Rosanna Gambino took a late jumper for two. Eau Claire answered with a quick jump shot, but it was negated by one from Whyte.
Following a 5-0 run by the Blugolds, Gambino sank a second jumper to bring the score to 69-42.
The Badgers allowed a 7-0 run by the Blugolds to end the game, but it wasn't enough to even the score. Wisconsin held on defensively at the end, as the team garnered the win in a 69-49 final score.
Wisconsin will be back in action on Saturday for a 2 p.m. (CT) matchup against Louisiana Tech to begin the regular season.
Â
The team looks to continue to play the way they played tonight as the regular season begins on Saturday.
"One of the biggest things for us this year is finishing games," senior guard Nicole Bauman said.
"There were a lot of games last year where we would be in it until the end, and somehow we would just either lose energy or the other team would step up more than we did and we would just lose the game."
Leading all players tonight was senior Dakota Whyte, who collected 18 points and three rebounds on the night. Whyte just nearly matched her career high of 20 points.
Bauman also had a big game offensively as she started off the night firing. She went 5-for-5 in the first half alone, and picked up 15 points and four rebounds on the night.
Tessa Cichy rounded out the trio of leading seniors as she tallied nearly a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Badgers snatch the win. The three seniors scored in double figures in both of the Badgers' exhibition wins.
"It started with Dakota and Tessa and Nicole on the defensive end, and then others came in and did a nice job," head coach Bobbie Kelsey said."There's always something to learn but we're very happy with our effort and our energy."
The Badgers concluded the first period on top, as both teams worked to get their offenses firing from the get-go.
The Blugolds got on the board first with a pair of free throws, but Bauman was quick to answer with a layup of her own. After back and forth lead changes, the Badgers, paced by four 3-pointers, headed into the second quarter on top, 18-12.
Continuing the scoring offense, Bauman began the second quarter with a quick 3-point basket to lay the foundation for the Badgers for the rest of the quarter. The Badgers went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead, 25-14, until it was ended by Eau Claire with jumper. Â
The Badgers enjoyed a 9-0 run to further extend the lead, 34-16, following a layup from Cichy. The combination of Whyte, Cichy and Bauman sealed the deal for the Badgers in the first half, as their combined 16 points ensured Wisconsin's 36-19 lead at half.
Following halftime, Cichy continued her momentum to put up a quick jump shot to start off the third quarter. Still rolling with the momentum, Cichy grabbed a rebound and found Whyte down court, who turned and took a short jumper for two, completing the 4-0 run for the Badgers and giving them a 40-19 advantage.
Wisconsin allowed a short 6-0 run from the Blugolds, but came back strong with the second 9-0 run of the game. Bauman and junior Avyanna Young had one and two layups, respectively, while Cichy ended the run with a 3-pointer to bring the Badgers up further, 49-25.
After an Eau Claire basket, the Badgers turned around and went on a 6-0 run from sophomore Cayla McMorris and Whyte to close out the third quarter as they led the Blugolds, 55-27.
Young began the fourth quarter for the Badgers by sinking a free throw, but the Blugolds quickly answered the momentum with a 3-pointer. Not ready to give in, Cichy switched the momentum immediately with a matching 3-pointer to bring the Badgers up, 59-30.
After a pair of Blugold free throws, senior Rosanna Gambino took a late jumper for two. Eau Claire answered with a quick jump shot, but it was negated by one from Whyte.
Following a 5-0 run by the Blugolds, Gambino sank a second jumper to bring the score to 69-42.
The Badgers allowed a 7-0 run by the Blugolds to end the game, but it wasn't enough to even the score. Wisconsin held on defensively at the end, as the team garnered the win in a 69-49 final score.
Wisconsin will be back in action on Saturday for a 2 p.m. (CT) matchup against Louisiana Tech to begin the regular season.
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball Wisconsin Women's Basketball Postgame Media Conference || Oct. 27, 2025
Monday, October 27
Robin Pingeton Introductory Media Conference || Wisconsin Women's Basketball || April 1, 2025
Tuesday, April 01
Wisconsin Women's Basketball: Introducing Coach Pingeton
Tuesday, April 01
Connected || Serah Williams
Friday, February 14
