The Badgers women's basketball team's prospects this season rest heavily on the play of sophomore forward Mariah Dunham. She is one of the most talented players on the team, and her quick maturation into a third scoring option could pay big dividends for Wisconsin down the road.
Dunham is a versatile forward who came to UW last season from Watertown, Wis. She had a very successful prep career, earning First Team All State three times and winning the Miss Basketball Award in Wisconsin as a senior. Dunham achieved the feat of leading her senior team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. In 2004, Dunham's Watertown high school squad was the runner-up for the Division I Wisconsin state title.
She also played AAU ball with current UW teammate Caitlin Gibson. Familiar faces, however, have not been the only thing Dunham enjoys about UW.
It's been a great experience. I couldn't have asked to come to a better place than this. The facilities are great, the people are great, the fan base,"" Dunham said. ""Everyone wants to be a Badger or loves the Badgers if you're from Wisconsin.""
Dunham's arrival, along with that of heralded guard Rea Lin D'Alie, helped the team go from 11 wins in the 2005 season to 23 wins in 2006. She was the third leading scorer on the team and was fourth on the team in rebounds that season. She also started 14 games and was among the top five players on the team to receive the most playing time.
The greatest aspect that Dunham brings to the court is her versatility. She can attack the basket from the post or by driving and she also posseses a nice outside shot.
""She brings a great post presence being that she can step out on the wing and go down on the block. She's just like a mismatch,"" senior forward Janese Banks said. ""If she has a post player on her, she can take her to the basket. If she has a smaller guard, she can post her up. I think she just creates a mismatch for all teams.""
Last season, Dunham was second on the team in three point attempts, and scored 31.5 percent of them. She does most of this work from the power forward spot, supplying even more shooting to Wisconsin's three guard lineup.
She also dropped 25 points on Iowa and blocked four shots against Michigan State last season, along with hitting several clutch free throws down the stretch in a win over Kansas State.
Coming off of that season, Dunham continued working to improve her game.
""[I worked on] conditioning and my footwork and stuff like that,"" Dunham said. ""Just being a little more guard like than last season.""
Dunham has struggled this year however, scoring only five points per game and shooting just under 30 percent. As she has struggled, so have the Badgers who currently are 3-3.
Unlike many Badgers, Dunham started playing basketball extremely early in her life. Her family members played a strong role in her involvement in the game.
""I actually started out playing soccer first when I was really little. Then I just developed a love for the game, fourth or fifth grade. I started playing with my older sister and then I kind of followed in my father's footsteps. He loved the game of basketball. Also my older sister played with me in high school,"" Dunham said. ""I'm from Watertown and so it's pretty big there. I don't know, I just enjoy the game a lot and especially in high school I got a little bit more serious with the game. I started working out my game more off the court and I just developed and found a place here.""
While her career has been short, Dunham has managed to earn a great deal of respect from her teammates.
""Mariah Dunham can be the best player that she wants to be. It's just a matter of her realizing what she can do but her impact to her basketball team is amazing,"" senior guard Jolene Anderson said. ""She's a physical four player, she can play the three or the four. Not too many post players in the country can do that. It's just Mariah realizing what her potential is and just her going out and getting it.
