Badger Women's Basketball Team Hopes Undefeated Season Continues
November 26, 2004 | Women's Basketball
The Badger women's basketball team is 2-0 for the best season opening since 1999. Wisconsin hope to continue that streak at the Houston Classic Friday and Saturday where it meets the 26th-ranked host school tonight at 7 p.m. The Badgers play Middle Tennessee State Saturday at 2 p.m.
Several storylines have emerged. UW won its first two games of the season with an 82-53 rout of Southern Illinois Nov. 22. Wisconsin had its first opening season win since 2001 and first under second year head coach Lisa Stone with a decisive 82-49 victory over IUPUI on Nov. 19.
A more athletic and offensive-minded UW team has taken the floor this season. The Badgers are averaging 82 points per game, 24.7 points more than last season 's average of 57.3.
The taller Badgers dominated the boards versus SIU with a 51-to-17 advantage. The 17 rebounds by the Salukis was a Kohl Center record low for an opponent. The Badgers rank No. 1 in Big Ten stats for rebound margin with +23.
In rectifying ills of the past, Wisconsin has taken care of the ball averaging 13 turnovers in two games. UW had just two turnovers in the first half against IUPUI, and 10 for the game. The Badgers averaged 17.9 turnovers per game last season.
All but two of 11 UW players are averaging double-digit minutes and all 11 have scored in the two games played. Three Badgers are averaging double figures led by a freshman, Jolene Anderson, with 18.5 points per game.
Among individuals junior Jordan Wilson (Naperville, Ill.) has established herself as the go-to player inside. Her elusive left-handed jump hook has befuddled opponents, and she ranks second on the team in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (8.0). Last year she started the final 12 games and averaged a career-high 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. She was the MVP of the 2002 Miami Tournament as was also named the team's Most Improved Player.
Freshman Jolene Anderson (Port Wing, Wis.), came to Wisconsin with impecable scoring credentials and has not disappointed. The team's leading scorer with 18.5 points per game, she ranks fifth in the conference in scoring, first in 3-pt. goals made (2.5), and fifth in assists (5.5). She is the State of Wisconsin 's all-time leading prep scorer and 2004 AP State Player of the Year. In addition to averaging 37.1 points and 15.1 rebounds her senior season, Anderson holds the scoring records for most points in a game (58) and most points in a season (956).
Freshman guard Janese Banks (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off a knee injury to start the season opener collecting 15 points and seven rebounds against IUPUI. She was 8-of-11 at the free throw line and leads the team in free throw shooting making 72.7 percent. She is second in the Big Ten in offensive boards with 5.0 per game. Banks was withheld from practice Nov. 1-8 due to a non-sports related injury to her left knee.
The Big Ten-assists leader in 2003-04 with 5.8 per game, Stephanie Rich (Crawfordsville, Iowa) has continued that pace currently ranked third in the Big Ten with 7.0 assists per game. She nearly had her third career double-double versus SIU with 13 points and nine assists.
The Badgers continue on the road next week with a game Dec. 1 at Marquette at 6 p.m., and at Iowa State on Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.
