Wisconsin suffered their eighth consecutive loss Sunday, falling to the No. 2 UCLA Bruins 80-60 just days after losing to the USC Trojans 66-59 on Feb. 19 in a late season West Coast road trip.
The Badgers, unable to put together a full 60 minutes of solid basketball, continue to fall short in what has become a miserable finish to the season. With these most recent losses, Wisconsin will once again end the regular season with a losing record for the 15th straight year.
USC
Wisconsin looked improved on defense, especially at the early of the game, as they forced the Trojans into difficult shots out the gate. USC shot abysmally, going 26.3% from the field and 0-for-7 from behind the arc. The Badgers, meanwhile, were aggressive on both ends of the court, but struggled offensively. They scored only 11 points in the first quarter and shot a mere 22.2% from the field, wasting an opportunity to build a lead. After a rough quarter for both teams, the Trojans led 14-11.
Wisconsin’s offense showed no improvement in the second quarter, as they continued to struggle from behind the arc. USC, on the other hand, performed a bit better, aided by a 6-0 run to start the quarter. Both teams went on a scoring drought in the last 90 seconds of the half, and USC led 30-22 going into the break.
The Badgers played better offensively in the third quarter. Wisconsin went 3-for-3 from the 3-point line, with two of them coming from junior guard Kyrah Daniels. Most of Wisconsin’s offense came from quick transitions and perimeter play, which allowed the Badgers to create open shots and score 20 points in the third quarter.
Wisconsin’s defense, though, couldn’t do its part to bring the Badgers back. USC scored 21 points in the quarter with composed ball movement, spreading the Badgers apart on defense. USC maintained a 51-42 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Wisconsin did not have the start they wanted in the fourth quarter, going scoreless for the first three minutes of the period. The Badgers offensive momentum slowed down, shooting contested shots with little success.
Fortunately for the Badgers, their aggressive defense started giving the Trojans problems, forcing five turnovers throughout the quarter and led to USC shooting 30% from the field. With 44 seconds left to play, and Wisconsin down by nine, there was a slim chance for a Badger comeback. But USC’s Londynn Jones would shut the door as she sank two free throws, putting the game to bed.
UCLA
Going up against one of the country’s premier teams, the first three minutes of the game were a complete disaster for Wisconsin. The Bruins ran circles around the Badgers, rattled off a 14-4 run that put them in the driver's seat the rest of the game.
After working out some kinks, a 3-pointer by senior guard Laci Steele with 6:37 left helped ease the Badgers into the contest and bring Wisconsin’s offense some energy. UCLA kept on cruising, however, as senior center Lauren Betts provided a tough challenge in the paint.
In defending a team like the Bruins, who have the capability to shoot from deep and attack in the paint, the Badgers found themselves chasing all over the court, allowing various open shots in the first quarter. UCLA maintained a strong lead throughout the quarter, leading 26-15 going into the second period.
Wisconsin looked more settled in during the second quarter, especially defensively. As the Bruins offense began to stall, Wisconsin had an opportunity to claw back. Wisconsin hit two 3-pointers but were too sloppy with the ball to mount a real comeback opportunity. With 2:24 left in the first half, UCLA’s Rice Kiki hit a huge 3-pointer to put the Bruins up by 11, which demoralized Wisconsin. The Bruins went on a 4-0 run to end the half, leading 41-29 at the break.
The first two minutes of the third quarter were pivotal for the Badgers and their comeback hopes, as they went on a 5-0 run to start the quarter. But UCLA answered with their own 6-0 run, taking back the momentum. Wisconsin struggled to defend the Bruins from behind the arc, which ruined any progress Wisconsin were making offensively. Even as the Badgers were much more efficient offensively, they couldn’t stop UCLA from scoring.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Bruins led 65-49. All UCLA needed to do was continue to score and burn the clock, leaving Wisconsin with minimal chances for a miracle. Wisconsin’s defense did its job, holding UCLA to just 15 points in the fourth quarter on 1-for-8 shooting from behind the arc. But the Badgers struggled to sink their shots with a 26.7% field goal percentage throughout the quarter. Unable to find open shots and failing to sink the deep shot led to the eventual victory for UCLA.
Freshman center Dorja Zaja, with 16 points in 21 minutes, continues to improve for Wisconsin and was a bright spot in the loss. Provided she doesn’t transfer, she will certainly be a player for Wisconsin fans to keep an eye on in her future. Wisconsin will take on No. 15 Iowa in its final regular season game of the year in the Kohl Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on March 1.
