Wisconsin fell 91-86 in overtime to the No. 24 Washington Huskies on Feb. 8, squandering a huge upset opportunity after a late collapse.. The Badgers haven’t won a game in two weeks, and with five games left in the regular season, Wisconsin's hopes for an NCAA Tournament appearance are quickly slipping away.
Senior guard Destiny Howell and senior forward Gift Uchenna were instrumental in keeping the Badgers in the game and forcing overtime. But Washington's Avery Howell was unstoppable, scoring 34 points to propel the Huskies to a tough win.
Wisconsin got off to a hot start, rattling off a 9-2 run during the game’s first four minutes. Junior guard Kyrah Daniels was key to the Badgers early success, contributing eight points in the first quarter. The Badgers, per usual, relied on a lot of movement inside, forcing the drive and kicking it out when needed for an open 3-pointer.
Washington’s offense started a little slow, but it quickly stepped on the gas. The Huskies were incredibly efficient in transition, forcing Wisconsin into some unorganized defense. Washington also had amazing ball movement, which led to various open 3-pointers that helped them take an 18-17 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Though Howell started heating up during the second quarter, Wisconsin's defense struggled to contain Washington's offense. Howell’s 11 points helped the Badgers stay in the game, but the Huskies scored 26 points in the second quarter. Howell’s perfect 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc was pivotal, especially after a buzzer beater 3-pointer from Washington's Sayvia Sellers put the Huskies up 44-38 at half.
Wisconsin came out of the break hungry and ready for battle. A huge 10-point quarter from senior guard Laci Steele was exactly what the Badgers needed to ignite their offense. Wisconsin's defense also drastically improved, especially with Uchenna’s help defense, forcing the Huskies into only scoring 15 points through the third quarter. The Badgers ended the quarter with a huge 11-0 run to take a 60-59 lead with a quarter to play. Steele scored seven of those 11 points, including a 3-pointer to start their run. Wisconsin had four steals in the last three minutes of the quarter which helped contain Washington's offense.
Uchenna put the team on her back in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points. Her efforts helped Wisconsin build a six point difference with six minutes to go. But the Huskies showed why they’re ranked, and in the final four minutes of regulation, Wisconsin’s lead slipped away. With 1:13 left, Washington’s Hannah Stines tied the game up at 75, which ended up being the final score of regulation after Sellers couldn’t connect on a poor 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
