Game Coverage
Thursday, Jan. 4 | 7 p.m. — Kohl Center - Madison, Wis.
Game Notes vs. Michigan
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin (7-8, 0-2) continues its tough Big Ten Conference-opening stretch, returning home for two games against ranked teams. UW will play three ranked teams in its first four conference games. The Badgers host No. 22 Michigan (12-3, 1-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game airs live on the Big Ten Network from the Kohl Center. Additionally, the game can be heard live in the Madison area on 100.9 FM or online with the iHeartRadio app with Jon Arias on the call. Live statistics can be found on UWBadgers.com while live updates will be on Twitter (@BadgerWBB).
1. LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BADGERS: Wisconsin has struggled to score its first two Big Ten games, falling to No. 23 Iowa, 56-46, on Dec. 31 and at Purdue, 57-35, on Sunday. UW is averaging just 40.5 points per game in conference play while shooting 29.8 percent (34-114) from the field. Sophomore Abby Laszewski scored a team-high 12 points at Purdue on Sunday, shooting 62.5 percent (5-8) from the field. The 6-3 post also pulled down five rebounds and added one steal.
2. DOMINANT DEFENSE: While the Badgers have struggled to score, they have also played good defense. UW held Iowa to a season-low 56 points while Purdue scored 57 points. Wisconsin ranks fourth in the Big Ten, allowing 56.5 points per game in conference-only games.
3. ABBY ROAD: Sophomore Abby Laszewski is one of the most improved scorers in the Big Ten this season. The 6-3 forward ranks eighth, upping her scoring from 1.2 points per game last season to 7.9 points per game this season (plus 6.7).
4. WE'VE GOT HISTORY: Wisconsin leads the all-time series with Michigan 40-26 and 22-9 in games in Madison. The Wolverines have won the last three with UW's most recent victory on Dec. 28, 2015.
5. SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: Michigan is 12-3 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play. UM is 3-2 on the road and 0-1 in road conference games. The Wolverines' only losses this season were to Louisville (74-49), Notre Dame (83-63) and Iowa (82-72). UM is led by senior Katelynn Flaherty, who is averaging a stellar 22.8 points per game and holds a .457 field goal percentage (116-254), a .386 3-point field goal percentage (49-127) and a .859 free-throw percentage (61-71). She isn't the only Wolverine averaging double digits though, she is joined by Hallie Thorne (16.0) and Nicole Munger (10.1). Thorne is also the second-best rebounder with an average of 7.1 boards per game, while Jillian Dunston has the team lead with 9.9 rebounds per game.
In its last time out, No. 21 Michigan got within two points with 3:41 remaining, but No. 23-ranked Iowa ripped off eight straight points en route to an 82-72 win over the Wolverines on Sunday afternoon and snapping UM's eight-game winning streak.
