MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin women's basketball team snapped its three-game winning streak as it fell 88-65 at Marquette on Monday night at the Al McGuire Center.
The Badgers (5-4) had a good start in the first quarter, only trailing the Golden Eagles (4-3) 18-12 at the end of the period. Wisconsin kept it a two-point game or less for the first five minutes with baskets from
Niya Beverley and
Marsha Howard. But four Wisconsin turnovers over a span of 3:04 allowed for a 7-0 Marquette run at the end of the period to put the Golden Eagles up by six.
Marquette got hot in the second quarter thanks in part to Natisha Hiedeman, who had 18 points, three rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes of play in the first half. The Golden Eagles outscored the Badgers 34-12 in the second quarter, shooting 75 percent (12-of-16) in the period.
The Badgers made improvements in the third quarter, just being narrowly outscored 25-19 but the Golden Eagles continued their hot shooting, hitting 69.2 percent (9-of-13) for the quarter.
Wisconsin ended strong, outscoring Marquette 22-11 in the fourth quarter, going on a crucial 7-0 run that was topped off by a 3-pointer from
Lexy Richardson.
For the game, Marquette shot 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field while the Badgers shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62).
Freshman
Niya Beverley led Wisconsin with a career-high 14 points while sophomore
Abby Laszewski added 12 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
The Badgers outrebounded the Golden Eagles 36-31 behind six rebounds from Howard.
UW struggled with ball control, turning the ball over 22 times as Marquette has 17 steals.
Straight from the Court:
"They were able to get (to the basket) when they wanted to and it started in transition. We did not do a good job of building our defense in levels, stopping the ball, getting turned around, getting matched up and protecting the rim.
"You look at those second and third quarters and that's the whole game right there. No matter who you're playing, you can't give up 75 percent (shooting) in a quarter and 69 (percent) in another. Part of it was we didn't take care of the basketball. From a defensive aspect, I think we're a much better team than what we've shown.
"We never really got in a good rhythm of getting into any of our offense. You have to give Marquette credit on that, the pressure of taking us out of things. We knew we could not allow them to play at that tempo, that's when they're at their best.
Notables
- Freshman Niya Beverley scored a career-high 14 points, leading the Badgers in scoring for the first time in her career.
- Freshman Kara Crowley scored her first points as a Badger, hitting a layin in the fourth quarter.
- Freshman Lizzie Miller handed off her first career assist, dishing off the ball to Kendall Shaw for a layup.
- Wisconsin outrebounded their sixth opponent of the season as junior Marsha Howard led the team in rebounding for the fifth time.
Up Next:
The Badgers are back home to host Texas Rio Grande Valley at the Kohl Center on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
