Following an 87-71 victory over Cleveland State that ended a four-game losing streak, the Wisconsin women's basketball team looks to have a smooth transition into the second half of conference play. This may prove difficult, however, as the Badgers (1-5 Big Ten, 7-9 overall) face No. 3 Ohio State (6-1 Big Ten, 19-2 overall) Thursday at the Kohl Center. The Buckeyes have won eight games in a row.
The Badgers know they face a daunting opponent. Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said the team must handle a mismatch with Ohio State's post players. Buckeye sophomore center Jessica Davenport, who stands at 6'5', comes to mind.
\As small as we are, our post players have to understand that you're not going to shoot over Jessica Davenport,"" Stone said. ""You're going to have to move her. And whether we move her off the block or we work on countermoves and drive at her, there's different ways that we can counter her as well.""
Selected as co-Big Ten Player of the Week last week, Davenport leads the Buckeyes with an average of 17.2 points per game.
Ohio State sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins provides another threat. She led the Buckeyes with 18 points in their most recent 71-59 win against Northwestern, making seven of nine from the floor. Hoskins has scored 10 or more points in 15 games this season and averages 12.6 ppg. She led the Buckeyes with 15 points in the last meeting with Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes made 48 percent of their shots against Northwestern and made seven of 16 from three-point range. Ohio State boasts a .515 field-goal percentage on the season.
The Badgers, averaging 71.3 ppg, will need a stellar effort on offense to overtake the Buckeyes. Wisconsin clicked pretty well offensively against Cleveland State, as five players scored in double figures. In that game, the Badgers scored 48 first-half points, a season high. The Buckeyes, however, only allow 50.8 points per game.
Wisconsin needs to limit its turnovers against the Buckeyes. The Badgers turn the ball over 16.7 times per game and the Buckeyes force 17.3 per game. Ohio State commits 13.8 turnovers per game. UW turned the ball over 18 times and only forced five Ohio State turnovers in the last meeting between the two teams. In that game, Ohio State scored 26 points off turnovers compared to just two points off turnovers for UW.
""We need to take care of some business here at home and get on a little bit of a run,"" Stone said. ""There are games on that schedule that bode well for us. There are others that we're going to have to knock somebody off, like an Ohio State. In order to do that, our young and our old have to continue to mature.""
Wisconsin hopes freshman guard Jolene Anderson remains consistent. She has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games and leads the team with an average of 17.3 ppg. In a loss to then-No. 9 Michigan State on January 13, Anderson scored a team-high 16 points. Anderson has grabbed 87 rebounds, the second-most on the team.
Senior guard Stephanie Rich has also provided a spark for the Wisconsin offense, contributing 14 and 15 points against Cleveland State and Illinois, respectively. She has made 25 of 30 free throws this season and has dished a team-high 66 assists.
Expect the two teams to shoot the three-pointer. Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 6.4 three-point baskets per game, while the Badgers come in second in the conference with 5.9 per game.
Ohio State holds a 32-14 edge in the series and is 11-9 when facing the Badgers in Madison. Ohio State has won the last five meetings, most recently a 72-56 decision in Wisconsin's final home game last season. Wisconsin and Ohio State meet only once during the regular season this year.
