Box Score | Quotes
| | 1st | 2nd | Final | Wisconsin
| 41 | 17 | 58 | Vanderbilt
| 34 | 33 | 67 | | | Statistical Leaders | | • Michala Johnson: 17 Pts, 4 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 6-12 FG | | • Jacki Gulczynski: 11 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Ast,1 Blk, 4-6 FG | | • Cayla McMorris: 11 Pts, 3 Reb, 4-9 FG | | Stats at a Glance
| WIS | MINN | | FG Percentage | .442 | .475 | | 3-Point FG Percentage | .300 | .176 | | FT Percentage | .750 | .727 | | Offensive Rebounds | 10 | 14 | | Defensive Rebounds | 18 | 19 | | Total Rebounds | 28 | 33 | | Turnovers | 18 | 14 | | Assists | 14 | 11 | | Steals | 8 | 12 | | |
Nov. 20, 2014
MADISON -- Wisconsin kept the lead for all but 11 seconds of the first half after Vanderbilt sunk the opening shot. But with only 11:15 left in the game, the Commodores took control of the lead and switched the game around.
Vanderbilt defeated Wisconsin 67-58 at the Kohl Center on Thursday. However, the Badgers didn't fall without a fight.
| Fast Facts | | • Badgers shot 75.0 percent from the free-throw line | | • Johnson led UW with 17 points | | • Three players score in double figures for Badgers | |
"We are disappointed obviously in our second half play," Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey said. "All in all, we started out well and that is a good thing. We just need to learn how to keep the lead and not relinquish the lead."
In the first half, Wisconsin went on a 17-0 run to lead the Commodores 17-2 with 14:30 left in the half. Two layups by Michala Johnson and Dakota Whyte brought the team ahead by 17 (21-4) with 11:45 left.
Both teams went back-and-forth scoring, until the Badgers pulled off another 6-0 run (31-17) , fueled by Johnson's layup off of Whyte's steal and assist.
Vanderbilt pulled the gap to six points after Kristen Gaffney fired a 3-pointer, to bring the score to 36-30 with 2:30 left in the half. An offensive rebound and layup from freshman Cayla McMorris closed out the first half with the Badgers in the lead, 41-34.
The Commodores came out stronger in the second half, playing freshman starter Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau for 19 minutes after she played a mere two minutes in the first half after committing two fouls early on. In the second half alone, she tallied 11 points and six rebounds.
However, Wisconsin's 11 turnovers in the second half helped Vandy solidify the lead, along with their zone defense which frustrated the Badgers.
"I'm just disappointed in our turnovers and our lack of ability to take away some of their favorite moves," Kelsey said.
In the second half, McMorris sunk a three with 15:31 left in the game to bring the score to 48-41, with Vanderbilt trailing by seven. The Commodores answered back and tied it up at 48-48 with 11:44 to go, thanks to freshman Paris Kea's three jumpers and a layup from Goudreau. Goudreau put Vandy in the lead (50-48) with another layup at 11:15.
A 3-pointer by Jacki Gulcysnki couldn't salvage the Badgers, who were down 54-65 with eight minutes remaining in the game. Neither could Johnson, who scored five points in less than two minutes at the end.
Johnson led Wisconsin with 17 total points, and was second-most in the game right behind Rebekah Dahlman's 18 points. Dahlman also led both teams with nine rebounds.
Vanderbilt took advantage of their youth, with their four freshman players putting up 31 of their 67 points.
Freshman Cayla McMorris was right there with them, notching 11 points for the Badgers, which tied for second-most with Gulczynski.
Dakota Whyte led the Badgers with six rebounds and six assists.
Despite making more than 50 percent of their field goals in the first 20 minutes, the Badgers dropped to shooting 28.6 percent in the second half. The Badgers finished going 44.2 percent from field goal range. However, they kept their free throw percentage at an impressive 75 percent in the game.
The Badgers are back in action on Sunday, heading to Iowa to face Drake. Tipoff starts at 2 p.m.
