It was a game of streaks for the Wisconsin women's basketball team Sunday night against Northwestern. Each team had its share of impressive scoring runs and frustrating droughts. However, after 40 minutes, the Wildcats' streaks simply outdid the Badgers'.
For just the second time all season, Wisconsin dropped a home conference game, falling to Northwestern 68-62 Sunday night.
Making the loss even more frustrating, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue the first, second, and third place conference teams, respectively, all lost on the day as well. As they sit now, the Badgers remain in third place (tied with Purdue) in the Big Ten, but had an opportunity to move into second had they beaten the Wildcats.
""This is one that hurts, but it's one that we can't cry about too long,"" head coach Lisa Stone said. ""We have to move on to the next game.""
The Badgers started the streaks first, jumping out to a 24-10 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. Wisconsin looked good both in the paint and also from the perimeter.
However, something clicked toward the end of the first half, and Northwestern began a rampage from behind the arc. The Wildcats sunk three 3-pointers in the final three and a half minutes to close the gap to just a five-point Badger lead at halftime.
This shooting dominance carried over for Northwestern coming out of the locker room. The Wildcats sunk three quick jumpers to take a two-point lead three minutes in. Meanwhile, the Badgers' offense began to stall while Northwestern became unstoppable from 3-point range. The Wildcats ended the game with eight 3-pointers, the most Wisconsin has allowed all season.
""It felt like we were a step behind all night,"" junior guard Alyssa Karel said. ""We just didn't really have the mentality we usually have.""
Due in large part to a 17-2 Northwestern run, the Badgers found themselves down by as many as 15 points in the second half. Any attempt at a comeback was continually stalled by both poor Wisconsin shooting and a tough half-court trap implemented by Northwestern.
The Wildcats were held scoreless in the final two minutes of the game, but it was simply too little, too late for the Badgers.
For the second straight contest, junior forward Lin Zastrow led the Badgers in scoring. Coming off a double-double against Indiana last Thursday night, Zastrow scored 19 points against the Wildcats. Karel added 16 points for the Badgers, while senior guard Rae Lin D'Alie contributed 10 on the night.
For the first time this season, Wisconsin had three players in double figure scoring, yet still lost. While the Wildcats allowed the Badgers plenty of opportunities on offense, they dismantled the sixth ranked defense in the nation. The 68 points Wisconsin allowed were the second most all season.
However, the Badgers are prepared to leave this game behind them as they prepare for their next contest, on the road at Minnesota this Thursday.
""[This team] is a hungry bunch,"" Stone said. ""They're a very focused group of young women and they're on a mission to do something special this year.""
