After struggling early in the Big Ten season, the women's basketball team (7-9 overall, 1-5 Big Ten) found welcome relief in a non-conference blowout against Cleveland State 87-71 on Thursday night.
Five players were in double figures, led by freshman guard Janese Banks (7 of 10 from the free throw line) and senior guard Stephanie Rich (3 of 8 from behind the arc).
Freshman guard Jolene Anderson, who started Thursday's game averaging 17.6 points per game found herself in the unusual position of sitting on the bench for the majority of the first half. After playing only four minutes and scoring three points, Anderson hit her groove in the second half, ending with 21 minutes and 13 points.
\I didn't let it bother me,"" Anderson said. ""I did sit a lot in the first half ... but I was cheering my team on from the bench. I don't think I changed anything in the second half, just kept staying aggressive.""
The Badgers entered the second half with a comfortable 20-point lead, but the Vikings quickly came out and eroded the Badger cushion, cutting the lead to eight points. The scare provided enough momentum for the Badgers to surge ahead and end on a decisive note.
It was an all-around team effort with all players getting on the board. The Badgers were supported by strong shooting behind the arc and getting to the charity stripe 40 times, and a moral victory for a Badger team that was in the midst of a four-game losing streak, including a demoralizing loss against Illinois last week where the defense could not stop the Illini from shooting 50 percent.
Following the disappointing loss to Illinois, head coach Lisa Stone (with the help of Rich) instituted 6 a.m. practices. The message: There needs to be a change in attitude and freshman need to start turning things around. Despite that it has only been a few days and one game separating the Badgers from the loss, Rich said she has been pleased by the performance Thursday.
""The whole team has so much more to offer than they realize... if they just bring it out a little bit more, they're going to be fantastic,"" Rich said.
Despite the win and the notable change in the Badgers intensity, most obvious on the defensive side, the women will hit the floor again Friday at 6 a.m.
""Our team needs to understand that it doesn't matter what time or day it is ... whether the lights are on or off that we've got to cross the line and compete and play,"" Stone said.
