After outlasting the Purdue Boilermakers (10-5, 1-1) in a 76-69 near-collapse, the Wisconsin Badgers (1-1 Big Ten, 10-4 overall) now face the Penn State Lady Lions (0-2, 7-6) as part of a two-game road trip.
Thanks to their stingy interior defense and the superstar performance of senior Kelly Karlis, the Badgers have already improved on the nine wins they posted last season.
Wisconsin has fared decently on the road this year, splitting a pair of matchups against interstate rival Milwaukee and the 12th-ranked Minnesota Gophers, the latter resulting in a 56-74 defeat. In order to not repeat history, Wisconsin should focus on winning in transition and being able to finish late in the game.
Against the Boilermakers, Wisconsin scored 29 of its 76 points on fast breaks. Their success on executing on these high-speed plays allowed them to stretch the Purdue defense and opened up a previously well-guarded interior as coach Jonathan Tsipis pointed out.
Once again, the Badgers struggled to end strong as Purdue nearly clawed its way back to victory in the fourth quarter. Wisconsin must be able to keep its level of competitiveness up throughout the game and not take its foot off the gas if it has acquired a large lead. Maintaining a consistent pace should help prevent any heartbreaking comeback defeats.
On the other side of the court are the Penn State Lady Lions, whose inconsistent season makes them an unpredictable opponent. Their 0-2 record in the Big Ten is deceptive, as the two losses came against powerhouses Maryland and Indiana. Although their 7-4 non-conference record reveals a team that appears to be struggling to find its identity as a seemingly new team approaches each game. Penn State has fluctuated between attacking the paint and relying on its perimeter game, and that lack of penetration has cost it early in conference play.
However, the team’s tough interior defense has allowed them to average 4.5 blocks per game and will thus force Wisconsin to prove their three-point shooting capabilities once more. Both teams have shown different forms through the first half of the year, and Thursday’s matchup will likely come down to which team each school brings to the court.
Tip-off is Thursday at 6:00 pm.
