The Wisconsin women's basketball team (0-0 Big Ten, 0-2 overall) came into this weekend hoping to shake off an early season loss to Northern Illinois, but UW-Green Bay (0-0 Horizon League, 1-1 overall) was not about to let that happen. Badger turnovers and Green Bay's success from beyond the arc led to a 77-52 victory for the Phoenix.
The Phoenix came out of the locker room shooting, as they hit eight-of-11 three-point shots in the first half and took advantage of 14 Badger turnovers.
In the second half, Green Bay moved their game inside and took over at the free-throw line, finishing 18-for-19 from the charity stripe. The Badgers' lack of teamwork and experience showed, as they had one more turnover than total shots made, 24 and 23 respectively.
\We've got individuals who we really believe in. Unfortunately, we have not had opportunities to play a lot of minutes together and every time we get to play 40 minutes, we want to play a little better,"" Head Coach Jane Albright said. ""I don't know what we got better at today.""
Senior guard Kristy Loiselle led UW-Green Bay with 20 points, shooting a perfect four-for-four from three-point range and six-for-six from the free throw line.
""That's what they always say in big games, that you have to make the free throws and you have to make the easy shots or you're not going to win,"" Loiselle said.
UW sophomore guard Stephanie Rich, coming off a zero-for-12 shooting performance at Northern Illinois, continued to struggle as she was three-of-13 for seven points.
""I knew we were at home and I figured the ball would go in the hoop,"" Rich said. ""Sooner or later it's going to fall.""
One of the few positive aspects of the Badgers' play was the effort put forth by the freshmen coming off the bench. Guard Ashley Josephson and forward Jordan Wilson combined for 11 points while only turning the ball over twice.
""I just wanted to come in there and do what I could off the bat and keep things fired up,"" Wilson said.
""I think that we're definitely disappointed, but I don't think that we're shaken. I think that we can definitely come back from this,"" sophomore forward Ebba Gebisa said.
The Badgers will get a chance to bounce back next weekend when they head to California for the Pepperdine Invitational Tournament.
