The UW women's basketball team hopes to extend its breakout season when it tips off against the Kentucky Wildcats in the third round of the WNIT at the Kohl Center.
Kentucky is fresh off a dramatic 85-82 win at Ball State while the Badgers dominated Arkansas State 77-45 in Madison. This is Lisa Stone's first postseason trip as UW's head coach and the first time ever that Wisconsin will face Kentucky.
""They are a team that has pieces and is very well coached. They work hard. [Kentucky] is a basketball school and they are expected to win."" Stone said. ""I would like to say Wisconsin is also a basketball school and we are expected to win, too.""
A big key to coming through with that win will be controlling the lane and the offensive and defensive glass. Kentucky's frontcourt consists of the formidable 6'6'' Sarah Elliott, who is averaging 13.6 points per game, and Jennifer Humphrey, who collected 10.3 rebounds per contest, including 126 off the offensive glass.
""We are 6'4'' and 6'4'' inside. I like our match up with Danielle Ward and Caitlin Gibson. I like our match up with Mariah Dunham and Brittany Heins, as well,"" Stone said. ""It's more about being smart and understanding the game plan, trying to get their tendencies.""
The Badgers will need to rely on their first team All-Big Ten guard Jolene Anderson, who led the Big Ten in scoring with 19.3 points per game. In Wisconsin's last game, Anderson scored a career-high 30 points and passed Barb Franke in scoring the most points in a single season in team history. She is, however, not letting the record distract her from the team goal.
""Our season is still going. There is so much more to focus on. I'll look back when I am done with my career, look at the people I surpassed,"" Anderson said. ""Barb Franke was a great post player, someone that I admired when she recruited me at Drake.""
The player who orchestrates the Badgers' offense is point guard Rae Lin D'Alie, who dished out the most assists in the conference, a feat that is especially impressive since she is only a freshman. She may be looking to push her game to another level as the Badgers continue their run.
""Continue what I've been doing, just running the show. Taking shots when they are open and not letting them pass away,"" D'Alie said about what she needs to do against the Wildcats. ""Coach has been telling me ‘You have to shoot it, you have to take open shots and be a scoring threat.' That way they won't lay off me and then the distribution will come.""
Aside from its inside presence, Kentucky has a formidable cast of other players. Samantha Mahoney is an athletic wing who scored almost 13 points per game in SEC contests. Jenny Pfeiffer provides dead eye shooting off the bench and Carly Ormerod is a point guard Stone describes as ""steady.""
The Badgers already have one WNIT title to their credit, winning in 2000. They also lost in the championship game of the 1999 WNIT. If Wisconsin survives Kentucky they will take on the winner of the Virginia-South Florida game on Thursday.
With all of her players returning next year, Stone is optimistic that the Badgers' program is on the rise. ""Our expectations continue to rise through the end of this season, into the summer and into next year,"" she said. ""With everybody back we are all together, this momentum continues to be a spring board for us.""
