MADISON, Wis. – Despite holding Minnesota to its third-lowest point total of the season, the Wisconsin women's basketball fell to the Golden Gophers, 71-61, on Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
In a rematch between the border rivals, Wisconsin (9-15 overall, 2-9 Big Ten) was looking to avenge a 25-point loss (90-65) at Minnesota on Jan. 18. The Golden Gophers (17-5, 6-3) entered tonight's game as one of the top scoring teams in the conference, averaging more than 85 points per game.
Led by sophomore Courtney Fredrickson, who recorded her fifth career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, the Badgers fought to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit (35-24).
Wisconsin cut the UM lead to eight points four times in the third quarter, including at 51-43 with 1:09 to play but the Gophers hit two late 3-pointers to go up 57-43 at the end of three periods.
The Badgers rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Golden Gophers 18-14, but struggled to close the gap.
UW shot 38.5 percent (25-65) for the game while Minnesota shot 40.6 percent (28-69). Wisconsin also held Minnesota to just 5-9 (55.6 percent) from the free-throw line while the Badgers shot 7-10 (70 percent).
The Badgers won the rebounding battle 44-38 behind Fredrickson's career-high 14 boards.
Junior Marsha Howard added 15 points while freshman Niya Beverley chipped in 10 points.
Wisconsin committed 18 turnovers as the Gophers had 11 steals, scoring 23 off UW giveaways. Minnesota gave up the ball 13 times.Â
The Badgers had 14 assists with Kendra Van Leeuwen recording a team high five while also leading UW with three steals.
The Golden Gophers pulled away at the end of the first quarter and start of the second quarter, going on a 14-0 run to lead 29-12 with 7:38 to play in the half. An 8-0 Badger run at the end of the second period, led by two 3-pointers by Suzanne Gilreath, cut the lead to 32-24 with 43 seconds on the clock. Minnesota hit a triple with 16 seconds to play for a 35-24 halftime lead.
Notes to know
- Sophomore Courtney Fredrickson recorded her fifth career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. She tied her career high in scoring while her rebounds were a new career high. It marked her 14th time with 10-or-more points this season and her sixth time leading the Badgers in rebounds.
- Freshman Niya Beverley scored 10 points, her third game this season in double figures.Â
- Sophomore Kendra Van Leeuwen recorded a team-high five assists and three steals. It was her 10th game this season with two-or-more steals.
- Junior Marsha Howard tied her career high with three steals.
- The Badgers held Minnesota to their third-lowest point total of the season, 14 points below their season average of 85.2 points per game.
- Wisconsin outrebounded its season-straight opponent, outboarding the Gophers 44-38. The Badgers also outrebounded Illinois 44-32 on Sunday.
Straight from the Court:
Head Coach Jonathan Tsipis:
"I think it's very easy when you look at the box score and compare it to 13 days ago of a difference in the score and in some of the statistic areas. I just said to the team we are a better team than we were 13 days ago and that's the ultimate goal that I think any coach would want.
"Collectively with our team though there were so many things we left out there tonight, there were opportunities that we didn't take advantage of. You have to credit that to Minnesota. To dig a hole and go through that long scoring drought from the end of the first quarter through the second quarter, to then kind of scratch and claw. I just felt like we left things out there, whether it's the turnovers and again not just the turnovers but what they're able to do with them. We did a better job collectively the whole game, there are absolute parts where they got out and got a lot of advantage break.
"With Courtney's (Fredrickson) double-double, I thought she was really strong offensively from different parts of the floor tonight. I thought Niya (Beverley) did a great job in the second half of going downhill and trying to get to the rim. I think that gives her more confidence and she steps up and knocks down a 3-pointer."
Up Next
Wisconsin stays home for a Saturday matchup against No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes at noon in the Kohl Center. The game airs live on the Big Ten Network.
