Wisconsin women’s basketball season came to an end on March 4, as they lost 82-70 to the 10-seed Illinois Fighting Illini in the Big Ten Tournament. After a strong first few months in the head coach Robin Pingeton era, Wisconsin’s season crumbled mid-season, and the Badgers finished on a 10 game losing streak.
Wisconsin looked better offensively against Illinois, with their pace and movements creating various open shots. They played quick transition basketball, which allowed for the guards on the outside to cut inside for a possible open layup or midrange shot. But even with a better offense, going 53.8% from the field, Illinois wasn’t going to go away that easily.
The Fighting Illini went on an 11-0 run early in the first quarter, which gave them a significant lead early in the game. During this period, Wisconsin’s offense stalled due to multiple turnovers, which prevented the offense from settling in. It allowed Illinois to make their presence known in the paint, which was where it had the advantage over Wisconsin. To end the first quarter, senior guard Desinty Howell was able to hit a mid-range shot at the buzzer to bring the score to 23-17, with Illinois leading.
Wisconsin continued to get pushed around in the paint, with the Fighting Illini dominating inside. Illinois went on a 7-1 run in the beginning of the second quarter, which put them up by 13. Throughout the whole quarter, Illinois had zero 3-pointers or free throws; every point came inside the 3-point line. Wisconsin couldn’t find a way to defend it.
The Badgers continued their progress on offense, though. Their field goal percentage wasn’t as good as the first quarter, but they maintained a solid gameplan, continuing to work at a fast pace. Illinois closed out the first half with a buzzer beater, giving them a 41-33 lead at halftime.
The Badgers came out of the break with something to prove, going on a 9-0 run to start the third quarter, with senior forward Gift Uchenna and junior guard Laci Steele pivotal to creating their offense. Steele hit a huge 3-pointer to bring the deficit down to one, which gave Wisconsin a sign of life early in the second half. But this sudden burst of life quickly came to a stop after foul trouble started becoming an issue later in the third quarter.
Wisconsin accumulated eight fouls throughout the whole quarter. Leading to Illinois shooting nine free throws, making eight. The Illini took advantage of the free points, helping them finish with 21 points in the third quarter and maintain a 62-50 lead going into the fourth.
Gift Uchenna, with 11 points, and junior guard Kyrah Daniels, with nine, were electric in the fourth quarter, single-handedly giving Wisconsin a chance to come back and win the game. But without the help of anyone else, as they were the only scorers for the Badgers the entire quarter, Wisconsin couldn’t come up with a miracle. Illinois continued to aggressively attack the paint, and with the help of 15 free throws, making 12, they didn’t have any trouble maintaining their lead. The Badgers eventually lost 82-70, ending the season once and for all.
After a hard fought season with many ups and downs, Wisconsin now has a long rest before next November. With many seniors leaving and other possible departures through the transfer portal, Pingeton will have her work cut out for her recruiting the right players to build from this season.
