Team vs Michigan
Jack McLaughlin
80
Winner Michigan MICH 13-3, 2-1
57
Wisconsin WIS 7-9, 0-3
Winner
Michigan MICH
13-3, 2-1
80
Final
57
Wisconsin WIS
7-9, 0-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Michigan MICH 18 13 23 26 80
Wisconsin WIS 11 13 18 15 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Badgers fall to No. 22 Michigan, 80-57

Fredrickson leads Wisconsin with 16 points

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team suffered its first home loss of the new year, falling to No. 22 Michigan, 80-57, on Thursday night at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers (7-9 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) battled their Great Lake rival through the first three quarters but the Wolverines pulled away late in the third quarter. 

Michigan (13-3, 2-1) led 18-11 after the first quarter as the visitors hit 50 percent (8-16) from the field. Wisconsin contained Michigan to 13 points in the second quarter, keeping the Badgers within seven (31-24) at halftime. 

Wisconsin cut the lead to three (37-34) with 6:23 to play in the third quarter behind back-to-back 3 pointers from Kendra Van Leeuwen and Suzanne Gilreath. The Wolverines outscored the Badgers 9-3 over the last three minutes of the period to lead 54-42 at the end of three. UW would get no closer as Michigan outscored the Badgers 26-15 in the fourth quarter. 

Sophomore Courtney Fredrickson led the Badgers with 16 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Kendra Van Leeuwen put up 11 points and four rebounds. Junior Marsha Howard shared the team lead with six rebounds while sophomore Abby Laszewski had four blocks.

Michigan had four players score in double figures as it shot 49.2 percent (31-63) as a team. The Badgers hit 40.8 percent (20-49) and were outrebounded 35-27. Wisconsin also turned the ball over 22 times. The Wolverines scored 20 points off UW giveaways. 
 

STRAIGHT FROM THE COURT

Head Coach Jonathan Tsipis: "I thought from an ability to fight for two-and-a half quarters, we did a good job. I thought in the first half we did a really good job on (Katelynn) Flaherty, and made her uncomfortable and were more physical with her. We really didn't do a great job on Hallie Thome the entire game. I think she was 4-for-5 at halftime. 

"I thought that the game changed in the third quarter. We were plus-two rebounding in the first half, and we're still turning it over way too much in the first half. The second half, they outrebounded us by 10. We continued to turn it over and you could see that confidence (Michigan) got out of their press. 

"Our offensive attack was better than any of the (last) three games. The willingness to put the ball on the ground, to catch it shot ready. 

"The first half I thought Suzanne Gilreath had some really good looks from the top that just didn't go down. I thought Kendra (Van Leeuwen) stepped up and provided some scoring punch. Courtney (Fredrickson) was able to get things going in the first half and continue that route.

"The offense was better tonight and the defense wasn't on the same level it was the past two games and that's the inconsistency. When you shoot 40 percent at home, you have to hold somebody to equal or fewer. When you shoot that, if you cut the turnovers even by seven or eight, you give yourself a chance to have more possessions. I think you have to give credit to Michigan. They don't put themselves in foul trouble, they're in the zone and they did a great job of converting our miscues into points."

On if it was a better game: "I think it was a better offensive game. We're trying to make sure when they look and they can share the basketball and we go back and look at the turnovers. I think you're looking to see if we were trying to make the right play on the turnover. There were spurts defensively where I thought we did a good job in the first half. You've got to be able to dig in even more and get a stop and don't get a second-chance opportunity because you could see Michigan getting that confidence. I think they're such a good, well balanced, offensive team."

Kendra Van Leeuwen
On Katelynn Flaherty:
"She's a very skilled scorer in all aspects of the game. She can shoot, close out hard, she'll drive by you. She's even a really good facilitator as well. When you guard her, you need to make sure you keep her in front, close out hard, but it's also team defense today we really focused on. If I got hit on a screen, someone else would step up. That's how we tried to control her, especially in the first half. She's an amazing basketball player and she looks to score in all aspects."

Courtney Frederickson 
On the assertive offense:
"I think coach really harps on attacking and keeping that attacking mentality all the time. Force the defense to switch sides and change a lot. I definitely think our attacking was good, especially in the first half. We kept it coming a little bit in the third quarter and then it kind of slipped away from us. Keeping that attacking mentality on offense is always the best way."
 

NOTABLES

  • Courtney Fredrickson's 16 points marked her fifth-straight game in double figures.  The 6-2 forward led the team in scoring for the second time this season and in rebounds (6) for a fourth time this year.
  • Sophomore Abby Laszewski had a career-high four blocks, playing a career-high 32 minutes. 
  • Wisconsin's entire active roster saw playing time Thursday night.
  • Marsha Howard led the team in rebounds (6) for a ninth time this season.
  • Wisconsin's 40.8 percent (20-49) was the team's best shooting percentage in the last four games.
  • Kendra Van Leeuwen tied her season high with two 3 pointers in the contest.
  • Cayla McMorris returned from a three-game absence, putting up eight points, three rebounds, and two steals.
     

UP NEXT

The Badgers stay home to host No. 15 Maryland on Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Kohl Center.
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