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MADISON – The difference between the Wisconsin women's basketball team scoring its third ranked win of the season and leaving the Kohl Center with an overtime loss to No. 25 Washington may have been a couple of better box-outs.
Huskies sophomore Avery Howell grabbed two offensive rebounds in overtime Sunday, Feb. 8. She converted the first into a 3-pointer and the second into a layup.
Both buckets gave Washington the lead and ultimately were critical to the Huskies' 91-86 victory.
The loss was the fourth straight for Wisconsin, but the vibe was different than after the Indiana loss Feb. 4 when the Badgers came out flat footed before kicking their game into gear in the second half.
UW (13-11, 5-8 Big Ten) didn’t get the win, but it wasn’t for lack of intensity, particularly on the defensive end.
“I thought we played with a lot more grit and toughness and togetherness than we had in the previous game,” Badgers coach Robin Pingeton said. “You show up like that, you get a chance to play with anybody.”
Graduate guard Destiny Howell scored 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting for the Badgers. Senior forward Gift Uchenna (24 points, 12 rebounds) recorded season highs for points on the way to her fourth double-double of the season. And senior point guard Ronnie Porter (eight points, 10 rebounds, six steals) flirted with a double-double while equaling her season high for assists and setting a career high for steals.
Here are takeaways from the game.
Wisconsin trailed by 10 points early in the third quarter but entered the final quarter with a 60-59 lead. The Badgers scored 11 straight points to end the quarter as part of a 13-3 run overall.
Washington managed to shoot 50% during that quarter that included 3 for 4 from 3-point range. What the Huskies couldn’t handle was a scrappy effort from Wisconsin's defense that included players diving on the floor for balls and winning hustle plays.
The Badgers forced 10 turnovers that quarter, including seven steals. The plays led to 12 points off turnovers and eight (out of 19) fast-break points for the game.
“We're in the back half of the season right now,” Howell said. “We could be either going for it or playing safe, and there is no playing safe. So I feel like we made a lot more grittier plays and just really tried to play as hard as we could and get as many tips, deflections, steals and talked to each other as much as we could while we were out there.”
Wisconsin’s 15 steals were its second-highest total of the season after the 16 created against UW-Milwaukee on Nov. 10 and the most allowed by Washington this season.
The Badgers led, 75-71, with 2 minutes 33 seconds to play in regulation but missed their final five shots.
Wisconsin also had chances to win in overtime after Howell’s four-point play gave it an 86-85 edge with 69 seconds left, but Howell went 0 for 2 from 3-point range during the next two possessions. Meanwhile, Washington converted on its end to take five-point lead with 14 seconds left.
“Washington, they're a really, really, really good defensive team," Pingeton said. "You look at overall their stats and what they're holding teams to. ... They're just high IQ young ladies that play really, really well together. They blew up some of our action, and so I think you absolutely have to give credit to them."
There are times when Uchenna’s agility and quickness in the paint make her tough to stop. Sunday was one of those days. Uchenna pivoted around defenders on both sides of the basket and beat defenders down court for great position.
She even splashed a fall-away jumper in the third quarter that had heat check written on it.
Uchenna not only reached her season scoring high, but she also had season highs for field goals in an 11-for-16 shooting day and blocked three shots. She was a presence on both ends of the floor.
The key is delivering that kind of play more consistently. Similar to her 22-point night versus Nebraska on Jan. 21, Uchenna took the floor Sunday with added purpose following a six-point showing against Indiana.
“I thought I didn't play with fun, I didn't play with poise so I used that to attack today's game,” she said. “I said I was going to play with poise and patience and at the same time have fun and that is exactly what I did today, just let the game come to me.”
Howell also bounced back from a subpar showing against Indiana. After that game Pingeton noted the team’s leading scorer needed to play with a greater change of pace and direction to combat some of the physicality she was receiving from defenses.
On Sunday Howell was consistent throughout, getting 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first half and going 5 for 13 for 13 points in the second half and overtime.
“I think my shots today were a lot more in rhythm than how I started that Indiana game,” she said. “Me and Coach were in film and they broke down and showed me the shot selection that I had in the Indiana game to start. ... Just getting your rhythm, that's something that I want to focus on moving forward. I think today I was a lot more patient."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin women's basketball falls to No. 25 Washington in overtime
Continue reading...
Huskies sophomore Avery Howell grabbed two offensive rebounds in overtime Sunday, Feb. 8. She converted the first into a 3-pointer and the second into a layup.
Both buckets gave Washington the lead and ultimately were critical to the Huskies' 91-86 victory.
The loss was the fourth straight for Wisconsin, but the vibe was different than after the Indiana loss Feb. 4 when the Badgers came out flat footed before kicking their game into gear in the second half.
UW (13-11, 5-8 Big Ten) didn’t get the win, but it wasn’t for lack of intensity, particularly on the defensive end.
“I thought we played with a lot more grit and toughness and togetherness than we had in the previous game,” Badgers coach Robin Pingeton said. “You show up like that, you get a chance to play with anybody.”
Graduate guard Destiny Howell scored 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting for the Badgers. Senior forward Gift Uchenna (24 points, 12 rebounds) recorded season highs for points on the way to her fourth double-double of the season. And senior point guard Ronnie Porter (eight points, 10 rebounds, six steals) flirted with a double-double while equaling her season high for assists and setting a career high for steals.
Here are takeaways from the game.
Defensive effort sparked comeback
Wisconsin trailed by 10 points early in the third quarter but entered the final quarter with a 60-59 lead. The Badgers scored 11 straight points to end the quarter as part of a 13-3 run overall.
Washington managed to shoot 50% during that quarter that included 3 for 4 from 3-point range. What the Huskies couldn’t handle was a scrappy effort from Wisconsin's defense that included players diving on the floor for balls and winning hustle plays.
The Badgers forced 10 turnovers that quarter, including seven steals. The plays led to 12 points off turnovers and eight (out of 19) fast-break points for the game.
“We're in the back half of the season right now,” Howell said. “We could be either going for it or playing safe, and there is no playing safe. So I feel like we made a lot more grittier plays and just really tried to play as hard as we could and get as many tips, deflections, steals and talked to each other as much as we could while we were out there.”
Wisconsin’s 15 steals were its second-highest total of the season after the 16 created against UW-Milwaukee on Nov. 10 and the most allowed by Washington this season.
Washington won battle of late-game execution
The Badgers led, 75-71, with 2 minutes 33 seconds to play in regulation but missed their final five shots.
Wisconsin also had chances to win in overtime after Howell’s four-point play gave it an 86-85 edge with 69 seconds left, but Howell went 0 for 2 from 3-point range during the next two possessions. Meanwhile, Washington converted on its end to take five-point lead with 14 seconds left.
“Washington, they're a really, really, really good defensive team," Pingeton said. "You look at overall their stats and what they're holding teams to. ... They're just high IQ young ladies that play really, really well together. They blew up some of our action, and so I think you absolutely have to give credit to them."
Gift Uchenna's fancy footwork dogged Huskies
There are times when Uchenna’s agility and quickness in the paint make her tough to stop. Sunday was one of those days. Uchenna pivoted around defenders on both sides of the basket and beat defenders down court for great position.
She even splashed a fall-away jumper in the third quarter that had heat check written on it.
Uchenna not only reached her season scoring high, but she also had season highs for field goals in an 11-for-16 shooting day and blocked three shots. She was a presence on both ends of the floor.
The key is delivering that kind of play more consistently. Similar to her 22-point night versus Nebraska on Jan. 21, Uchenna took the floor Sunday with added purpose following a six-point showing against Indiana.
“I thought I didn't play with fun, I didn't play with poise so I used that to attack today's game,” she said. “I said I was going to play with poise and patience and at the same time have fun and that is exactly what I did today, just let the game come to me.”
Destiny Howell delivers for 40 minutes plus OT
Howell also bounced back from a subpar showing against Indiana. After that game Pingeton noted the team’s leading scorer needed to play with a greater change of pace and direction to combat some of the physicality she was receiving from defenses.
On Sunday Howell was consistent throughout, getting 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first half and going 5 for 13 for 13 points in the second half and overtime.
“I think my shots today were a lot more in rhythm than how I started that Indiana game,” she said. “Me and Coach were in film and they broke down and showed me the shot selection that I had in the Indiana game to start. ... Just getting your rhythm, that's something that I want to focus on moving forward. I think today I was a lot more patient."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin women's basketball falls to No. 25 Washington in overtime
Continue reading...
