While junior guards Nicole Bauman and Tessa Cichy produced career scoring highs in Sunday’s matchup against Michigan State, the Spartans (2-7 Big Ten, 10-10 overall) ultimately held off the Badgers (3-6 Big Ten, 7-12 Overall) 77-71 in East Lansing.
Bauman’s 23 points and Cichy’s 15 points helped the Badgers keep the game relatively close throughout the duration of the game, but Michigan State capitalized off of rebounding and a dominant inside game.
Wisconsin was outscored 36-22 in the paint and was outrebounded 49-31 by the Spartans.
Led by sophomore forward Aerial Powers’ 23 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists, Michigan State overmatched Wisconsin inside the paint in both halves of the game.
Head coach Bobbie Kelsey asserted that, “We’re hurting because we don’t have an inside game. We just need more of that.”
Though the Badgers did struggle with rebounding and inside-the-paint scoring, Wisconsin made nine three-pointers and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The efficient 3-point shooting led by Nicole Bauman enabled the Badgers to hang on to a 34-33 halftime lead, but within the first few minutes of the second half, the Spartans pulled away on a 20-7 run.
By the 10:01 mark in the second half, the Spartans lead 62-48 and controlled their comfortable lead for the remaining minutes of the game.
Junior Dakota Whyte added 13 points and five steals for the Badgers, but the lack of balanced scoring hindered Wisconsin from gaining their lead back.
Michigan State had four players in double digits, mainly due to free throw opportunities.
Wisconsin sent the Spartans to the free throw line 17 times, and Michigan State benefited from this as they knocked down 15 free throws, versus the Badgers’ minuscule eight made buckets.
“Their O boards and going to the free throw line,” Kelsey stated when asked what made the difference in the game.
Sunday’s loss continued to frustrate the Badgers as they now ride on a three-game conference losing streak and have essentially paralleled the struggling season they had last year.
“It’s disappointing for the kids because they do work hard and they’re trying to do what we ask them,” Kelsey said.
After facing two AP ranked teams in the last two weeks, the Badgers should have optimism as an easier stretch of conference play approaches in the next couple weeks.
This Thursday, Wisconsin will try to shake off their current losing streak as they face a mediocre Ohio State squad at the Kohl Center.
