Women's Basketball Earns Season's First Win
November 30, 2002 | Women's Basketball
The Wisconsin women's basketball team earned its first win of the 2002-03 season Friday night, 58-49, overcoming a halftime deficit and a late surge by Texas-Arlington. Neither team led by more than seven points until the final minute, and the Badgers (1-2) and Lady Mavericks (1-2) battled every moment of the way until the Badgers ran away with victory with a 9-0 run in the final two minutes.
'Our offensive execution was exceptional down the stretch, ' coach Jane Albright said. 'When we needed to score they executed exactly what we asked them do to. They did gel down the stretch and played like we know they can play and have seen in practice.'
Texas-Arlington and Wisconsin traded four ties early in the game, but Texas-Arlington pulled away behind the shooting of Chondra Reagan. Reagan tallied 10 points early to give the Lady Mavs their largest lead of the game at 16-10.
Emily Ashbaugh had to sit early after her second foul with 12 minutes on the clock and the Badgers missed their veteran post player in the first stanza. The Badgers kept it close and pulled within one on back-to-back field goals by Kristi Seeger. Seeger finished the first half 4-for-4, pulling the Badgers to within one again at 22-21, before the Lady Mavs earned a 24-21 lead at the break.
The Badgers picked up right where they left off in the second half, with Seeger putting the score at 24-23 on a drive to the basket. Ashbaugh stayed out of foul trouble in the second half and gave the Badgers the inside presence they needed. The 6-5 junior scored nine points in the second half and converted on a couple set plays with Seeger to spark the Badgers.
At 34-33, Wisconsin took its first lead of the game since leading 6-4, on an Ebba Gebisa free throw. UW increased its lead to 40-34 on free throws and an Ashley Josephson shot, but the Lady Mavs battled back to regain their one-point lead at 41-40. Texas-Arlington led by one six different times during the game.
A Jordan Wilson turn-around left-handed hook put the Badgers up for good at 42-41. Wisconsin built a seven-point led behind two free throws and two long two-point shots by Stephanie Rich and Josephson. Rola Ogunoye knocked in four of her 16 points to keep the Lady Mavs in the game late. Texas-Arlington pulled to within 48-47 with less than four minutes remaining.
Albright called a 30 second timeout with 2:04 left and the Badgers capitalized, scoring on their set play right out of the break. Ashbaugh sent the inbounds pass back to Seeger to put UW up 50-47, which started a nine-point run for the Badgers.
'Those two individuals had exceptional performances, ' Albright said. 'Seeger was six of seven, played a lot of minutes and was very heady. Ashbaugh had 13 points, seven boards and five assists in 22 minutes. She had some touch calls as far as fouls, but I really thought she was the strongest and headiest she's been for us.'
Ashbaugh and Seeger led the way for the Badgers with 13 points apiece, both season highs. Rich added a career-high nine points and Josephson tied her career-high eight points. Ashbaugh and Lello Gebisa tallied seven rebounds apiece for UW. Wisconsin shot 52 percent for the game compared to Texas-Arlington's 35 percent shooting.
Wisconsin advances to the Thanksgiving Classic championship game Saturday. The Badgers face the host Pepperdine Waves (1-2) tomorrow at 7 p.m. Central.
