The Wisconsin women's basketball team faced a frustrating struggle on against South Dakota State and they fell 64-44 in their season opener.
That's a really good team,"" UW coach Lisa Stone said of SDSU. ""It's a team we're going to face in a similar talent level within our league.""
After defeating Missouri last week, the Jackrabbits are now 2-0 while the Badgers begin the season 0-1. The Badgers started off the game with an 8-0 lead as junior guard Rae Lin D'Alie hit a 2-pointer to open the first half and sophomore forward Tara Steinbauer, who added seven points on the game, scored another three to secure the lead.
Yet the Jackrabbits jump-started a 20-2 run over the next seven minutes as senior forward Stacie Oistad sunk two consecutive 3-pointers. Their lead grew to 31-15 with 6:12 left in the first half, but the Badgers answered back with a 9-2 run. SDSU then answered right back with a 9-2 run and went into the second half leading Wisconsin 42-26.
South Dakota State additionally out-rebounded Wisconsin 18-9 in the first half, but both teams struggled offensively in the second half. Junior guard Teah Grant ended an offensive drought with a free throw as both teams combined for only 19 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
""We had a little trouble defending the three in the first half,"" Stone said. ""From a defensive standpoint, we did a better job in the second half. I thought we showed a little more energy and we only got outscored 22-18 in the second half.""
While SDSU slowed down in the second half and held Wisconsin to 18 points, they forced 14 turnovers in the second half and 23 for the game. The Badgers shot 34 percent from the floor and struggled at the line, only shooting 33 percent.
""Offensively, we had 23 turnovers and only five assists,"" Stone said. ""They really denied us hard when we tried to put it on the floor and take it to the basket instead of making that extra pass. We can't have our perimeter players turning the ball over as many times as they did. We can't get a post touch if we cough it up on the perimeter.""
Sophomore guard Alyssa Karel added a game-high 11 points for the Badgers while freshman forward Anya Covington came off the bench to score eight and had four rebounds. Oistad and sophomore guard Macie Michelson led SDSU with 11 points each as Michelson went 4-of-4 from the field.
""We've got to make some better decisions, take higher percentage shots, try to get the ball inside more and be a little tougher,"" Stone said. ""This team here showed us what toughness is all about.
Wisconsin faces Drake in the Badgers' home opener Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
- uwbadgers.com
contributed to this report.
