Drake Rallies to Down Badgers
December 14, 2002 | Women's Basketball
With the score tied at 47 points apiece, Wisconsin failed to score a field goal in the final 6:22 of the game, allowing Drake University to put the game away with a 10-2 run down the stretch. The Bulldogs overcame a seven-point half-time deficit to post the 59-49 victory and improve to 5-3 on the season. Wisconsin, which had won the three previous meetings with the Bulldogs, drops to 2-6.
Drake's tough perimeter defense prevented the Badgers from utilizing their usually potent inside scoring attack, as UW's three post players combined for just ten points on the afternoon. Neither team could maintain a rhythm on offense during the low-scoring, defensive affair that was punctuated by scoring lulls, fouls, turnovers, and missed shots.
'You had two teams today that each lost three starters from last year and they are both searching for an identity,' analyzed Wisconsin Head Coach Jane Albright. 'Obviously, we had several problems tonight. We didn 't have much discipline, and when we were in our sets, we didn't run them. We didn't get the ball inside, and our guards were not having a great day. It's tough to win on the road when you can't execute your offense. '
The game started slowly with Drake holding a 10-8 lead after twelve minutes of action. Iowa-native Stephanie Rich, who won three high-school state championships in Des Moines, sparked an 11-1 Badger run that gave UW a 19-11 lead late in the period. Rich scored five of her nine first-half points during the surge. The Badgers maintained their lead the rest of the way, as Drake made only five of their 24 field-goal attempts in the opening frame.
The Bullodgs opened the second half on fire, however, quickly outscoring the Badgers 10-3 to tie the game at 31-31 after just four minutes of play. Drake Center Carla Bennett, who failed to score a field goal in the first half, hit for four of her game-high 19 points during the run.
Drake continued to find the hoop and slowly built a 44-38 lead with 8:37 left to play. The Badgers climbed back into the game with a 9-3 run fueled by a Rich three-pointer and a Kristi Seeger put-back that tied the game at 47 points apiece with 6:22 on the clock. Except for two free throws by freshman point guard Ashley Josephson, however, the Badgers failed to score the rest of the way as Drake put the game away.
'We need to give them credit defensively,' said Coach Albright. 'We were trying to get the ball inside four possessions in a row [at the end of the game], and just didn't do it.'
Rich led the Badgers with 15 points to go along with four rebounds and three steals. Seeger tied her career-high with 11 rebounds and contributed eight points and six assists. Josephson also chipped in with eight points.
Drake center Bennett converted 13 of 16 free-throw attempts to lead all scorers with 19 points, and she added ten rebounds to complete the double-double. Guard Linda Sayavongchanh was the other Bulldog in double figures with 15 points.
Wisconsin returns to action after the winter break to take on the Lady Dons of San Francisco University on Monday December 30th at 7:00 PM in the Kohl Center.
