Penn State head coach Coquese Washington warned future Badger opponents not look at Wisconsin's win-loss record following PSU's 27-point loss to UW Thursday night.
Northwestern head coach Beth Combs found Washington's words to be true as a season high 7,744 fans watched the Wisconsin women's basketball team trounce the limping Wildcats Sunday, 75-45.
We were not able to match up early,"" Combs said. ""We put ourselves in a hole and Wisconsin is playing very, very well right now.""
The Badgers dominated nearly every statistical category, especially on defense.
""Today we wanted to make sure that we established our defensive end first, and I thought we did,"" Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said. ""It allowed us to get out to a really nice strong start due to transition.""
Northwestern's 45 points is the best defensive effort by Wisconsin this season.
""Our defense had to pick up if we wanted to win basketball games,"" senior guard Jolene Anderson said. ""It was just a matter of us being determined and our offense will come from our defense, our offense will always be there. I think the past two games we've done a pretty good job at that.""
Fellow senior guard Janese Banks agreed.
""We've just been executing the game plan,"" Banks said. ""It seems like we spend the majority of our practice time on defense. We've been focusing on that a lot.""
Anderson once again led Wisconsin with 24 points and 11 rebounds, earning her fourth double-double of the season and the 22nd in her career. Banks pitched in 15 points and freshman forward Lin Zastrow added eight.
Eleven total Badgers found the scoring column en route to the big home win.
Northwestern, with five injured Wildcats absent from its active roster, was led by senior guard Nadia Bibbs who totaled 15 points on the night. Freshmen Amy Jaeschke, a 6-5 forward, and guard Meshia Reed added 10 points for the 'Cats.
Wisconsin jumped out to a 16-2 lead on 7-for-8 shooting and five Wildcat turnovers to start the game. Northwestern finally scored its first field goal at the 12:39 mark in the first half on a Reed mid-range jumper.
Northwestern totaled only 13 points in the first half. The Wildcats shot just 30 percent on the night compared to Wisconsin's blistering 48 percent.
""I believe that the ice broke against Penn State,"" Stone said. ""I was hoping that it was going to continue today and I thought it did. Now we're looking forward to regrouping and taking it on the road.""
The second consecutive blowout victory at the Kohl Center lifts the Badgers' record to 10-9 and 3-6 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin remains just 3.5 games behind frontrunner Ohio State with nine conference games remaining.
""If we stay focused on what has gotten us these last two wins and how we've been playing, I think we'll come up with the results,"" Banks said. ""We've got to play hard nosed defense and we've got to take care of the ball. Those have been the two things that have hurt us in the past.""
Wisconsin will next take on Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., Thursday. The Badgers have won just twice in 36 meetings with the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall.
