The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team took down the Green Bay Phoenix 76-72 in a thriller at the Kohl Center. Senior guard Destiny Howell scored a season high 23 points, helping the Badgers sneak past the undefeated Phoenix.
Green Bay went 4-for-6 from behind the arc to start the game, putting the Badgers in a difficult situation early. Howell was able to hold her own, scoring eight points, but the rest of the team struggled to find their footing, and the Badgers found themselves down 25-15 by the end of the first quarter.
An impressive bounce back quarter by the Badgers helped them get back in the game back. Wisconsin displayed excellent defence in the second quarter, limiting Green Bay to 30.8% from the field and 1-for-8 from deep. Redshirt junior guard Breauna Ware and Howell both hit important three pointers with four minutes left in the second quarter, which allowed the Badgers to cut the deficit to one at halftime, 37-36.
Both teams were aggressive in the third quarter, and both the Badgers and Phoenix shot worse than 40% from the field. Wisconsin guard Kyrah Daniels hit a huge 3 with four minutes left to give the Badgers a seven point lead. But Green Bay clawed back, cutting Wisconsin’s lead to only a point. At the end of the quarter, the Badgers led 51-50.
Wisconsin got off to a hot start to begin the fourth quarter and built an eight point lead. But the game ultimately came down to the wire. Wisconsin’s lead dropped to three in the final minute, and with 11 seconds left, Green Bay had the ball with a chance to tie it. Green Bay executed a well designed inbound play, creating a 3-point shot for Kristina Ouimette. Luckily for Wisconsin, her shot bounced out and Dorja Zaja pounced on the rebound to seal a hard-fought victory.
