Not since the 2001-'02 season has the UW women's basketball team had a winning record, as they have waded through seven, 10- and 12-win seasons the past three years. While they have lost their last five games, the Badgers (4-5) have been encouraged by their play as of late and said they feel like this is their season to make it over the .500 barrier and even compete for the Big Ten title.
'This year feels different than my last three. The confidence is different,' senior forward Kjersten Bakke said. 'You kind of go into every year hoping it's the year. We've got all the pieces of the puzzle. We've just got to put them together.'
'We are ready to be totally different, we don't want to let this year slip away,' sophomore guard Janese Banks added. 'There's always optimism and a chance to move into the top of the Big Ten.'
No coach or team really wants moral victories, but sometimes they are part of the growing process, and Wisconsin has achieved a few times in their current losing streak. They took No. 11 Notre Dame to the wire before losing 77-72 and lost a heartbreaking double overtime game to Kansas Sunday 90-87.
'We actually made a step forward in that game. A lot of great things happened and the effort was tremendous,' head coach Lisa Stone said. 'We put ourselves into a position to win and unfortunately we didn't get the result we wanted'but I'm very encouraged.'
Much of the credit for the team's improvement usually goes to star scorers Banks and sophomore guard Jolene Anderson, but one cannot overlook the senior leadership that goes on behind the scenes. Bakke, guard Ashley Josephson, forward Jordan Wilson and forward Annie Nelson have prepped the team well and, although they may not always light up the scoreboard, their presence is always felt.
'We have great senior leadership, they have done everything we have asked of them,' Stone said. 'They're great kids and they lead our players. They put the team ahead of themselves and without that, you can't move forward.'
On Wednesday, the Badgers visit UW-Milwaukee (4-4) for an in-state battle. With a similar record, the Panthers will be a good test for the Badgers, as it is a chance for them to end their current slide. Milwaukee is led by freshman center Traci Edwards, who averages 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as well as senior forward Nichole Drummond, who adds 10.9 points per game.
'[We have to] defend their inside game,' Banks said. 'They do high-low a lot. So we just have to stop that and contain them in transition.'
'We're going to play very aggressive physical defense, try and set the tempo and hopefully jump out early,' Stone said.
With a win against the Panthers, the Badgers can get back to .500 and perhaps start a new winning streak. The Big Ten schedule is not far down the road, so Wisconsin will take any momentum they can get.
'That's our goal,' Stone said. 'We want to be in postseason play and we have to be over .500.'
