Starting Five: Wisconsin closes non-conference schedule vs. Valpo

Thursday, December 22

Madison, Wis.

6:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Valpo

Tickets

Photo by: Meg Kelly

Starting Five: Wisconsin closes non-conference schedule vs. Valpo

December 20, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Badgers to play final non-conference game of season

By: Alexa Rappaport

Venue	Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.
Statistics	Wisconsin \| Valparaiso
Stream	B1G+
Radio	Listen Live on WTSO
Live Stats	vs. Valparaiso
Social Media	Facebook \| Twitter \| Instagram
Game Notes	Wisconsin \| Valpo

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin (4-9, 0-2 B1G) returns home to play Valparaiso (2-6, 0-0 MVC) in its final non-conference matchup of the 2022-23 season on Thursday, Dec. 22. Tip time is set for noon from the Kohl Center and the game can be streamed on B1G+ or listened to on WTSO.

The game was originally scheduled for 4 p.m., but due to the projected snow storm, Thursday's tip time was moved to noon.

Here are five things to know before the Badgers compete against the Crusaders:

1. IN-STATE LOSS: Wisconsin headed north to Green Bay for the first time since Dec. 8, 2018, and was defeated 70-60. This was the team's fourth-straight loss to the Phoenix, and their eighth in the last ten matchups. The Badgers led by one point after the first 10 minutes concluded, but ended up trailing by one at the halftime break. The Badgers dropped 22 points in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to make up for the 10 points scored in the third. Julie Pospisilova, Brooke Schramek and Avery LaBarbera accounted for 44 of Wisconsin's 60 points.

2. OFFENSIVE LEADER: After 13 games, Julie Pospisilova leads the Badgers in scoring with 13.4 points per game. She is averaging 17.0 points over the last two games after notching a team-high 18 points (4-14 FG, 3-9 3FG, 7-7 FT) against Green Bay. She has the most made 3-pointers on the team with 26, and the most total points with 174. The senior continues to prove why hse earned the title of 2021-22 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten a season ago, and has proven to be an indispensable part of Wisconsin's roster.

3. SCHRAMEK'S SUCCESS: Schramek had her second-straight double-digit scoring performance as the Badgers took on Green Bay. She finished with 18 points (4-6 FG, 1-2 3FG, 9-10 FT) and her nine-made free throws was a career-high. She's gone from averaging 9.3 points per game to 10.5 points per game over the last two contests, and is becoming a reliable offensive weapon.

4. CONTROLLING THE BALL: As the season has progressed, Wisconsin is finding ways to more consistently retain possession of the ball. After the first twelve games of the season, UW averaged 17.0 turnovers per game. However, in the last two games, the Badgers are averaging 10.5 turnovers per game. The team can still do more to avoid handing its opponents the ball, but Wisconsin is showing better control and is making better decisions with its passes.

5. SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS: Wisconsin will take on Valpo for the third time in program history, and the second time in three seasons. The last meeting came on Dec. 20, 2020 and UW won in overtime, 89-82. The Badgers will be the Crusaders' second Big Ten matchup of the year, with the team falling to Northwestern 81-47 on Nov. 27. Valpo boasts an experienced roster, with seven of its 12 players listed as upperclassmen. Leading the team is junior Lean Earnest, who averages a team-high 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.