The Wisconsin women's basketball team (1-0 overall) opened up their 2004-'05 campaign in convincing fashion Friday night with a 82-49 drubbing of IUPUI in both teams' season opener.
Wisconsin's freshmen provided plenty of optimism for Wisconsin fans, as guards Janese Banks and Jolene Anderson helped carry the Badgers to their largest margin of victory in nearly two years.
Banks, who has been sidelined with a leg injury, just started practicing with the team Tuesday, but managed to drop 15 points and grab seven rebounds. Her biggest impact was not in the scoring column, however, as the Indianapolis, Ind. native provided a quick spark in the opening moments against a team that is only a few miles from her home.
Banks took a charge on the first possession of the game, giving the Badgers an emotional lift from the start and grabbed an offensive board on the ensuing possession, as the opening minute provided a glimpse into what the next 39 minutes would hold.
\We could certainly start a lot of different people and I like that,"" Head Coach Lisa Stone said. ""I wanted to get a different start to the game than we have had in the past and it answered the way I wanted it to.""
Anderson may have been overshadowed by Banks' return, but led the Badgers with 20 points. Anderson's sharp shooting in the opening half-7 of 12 from the field-helped the Badgers jump out to a commanding 47-17 halftime lead. The 5'8"" guard also led the Badgers with 11 rebounds.
""Having recruited her myself, she will probably be in the lineup and sure enough she was,"" IUPUI Head Coach Shann Hart said. ""I think [Banks] is just outstanding on both ends of the basketball [court]. I was still concerned about her beating us and she still did.""
Together, Anderson and Banks helped execute a smothering Wisconsin press that caused 17 first-half turnovers and led to countless fast break opportunities. Banks and Anderson meshed from the opening tip, and the reality that the two have only spent the past week practicing together could not be detected from the play of the two freshmen.
""Coming into this season me and Jolene didn't know each other,"" Banks said. ""I just think we see each other well on the floor and we just see to know where each other are and I love playing with her.""
The performance of the young Badgers was not the most important aspect of Friday night's victory according to Stone and senior Jordan Wilson, who added 14 points. Instead, the key component is the fact that the Badgers got the 2004-'05 season off on the right foot and were able to gain some confidence before a four game road trip that begins after the Badgers host Southern Illinois Monday.
""We have been taking baby steps to try to get our whole team together on defense and offense,"" Wilson said. ""Every practice we have been working on a different aspect, and today I think it really showed out there-everything thing we have been working on in practice.""
