MINNEAPOLIS — The Wisconsin women’s basketball team's (0-6 Big Ten, 7-13 overall) shooting woes and foul trouble that plagued them throughout the first half of their 90-65 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-3, 15-5) gave UW a deficit that was too much to come back from.
“No disrespect to Minnesota’s defense, I thought we got good shots in the first half,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “We missed five or six shots, within five or six feet that were not contested but I thought we ran good actions and our players were aggressive.”
Minnesota used an impressive first half shooting performance, shooting close to 49 percent, to firmly secure a lead going into the second half that the Badgers would not come close to threatening.
Redshirt junior guard Kenisha Bell was the main threat throughout the first half for the Gophers as she scored 20 points alone. That was in large part to her drawing five fouls and she was perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
“I think when I started drawing fouls, I gained confidence in what I was doing and that made me not overthink passes and not overthink shots,” Bell said.
The Badgers were able to limit Bell in the second half to four points and four assists but Carlie Wagner stepped up delivering 10 points of her own and stopping any runs that Wisconsin managed to get in the second half in the process
“I thought [Wagner] got open looks, two of them we did not go out far enough to guard her,” Tsipis said. “I thought for the most part we made her earn points, but her impact shows you just impactful their offense is when they have three to four different scoring options to turn to.”
All of the Minnesota born players on the Wisconsin roster scored in double digits and were the majority of its offense on a disappointing night.
Brooklyn Park native Cayla McMorris was the main threat for the Badgers throughout the game as she managed to score a season-high 23 points in her final away game against the Gophers.
“This was my last game in Minnesota, I just wanted to come out strong and my teammates were looking for me and I really just wanted to convert opportunities and to win this game.” McMorris said.
Minnetonka native Courtney Fredrickson secured her third double-double on the year as she scored 15 points and grabbed 10 boards.
“I got to the line better tonight. I think that’s the most I have been to line all year, although I was not shooting well I attacked the basket and got my scoring opportunities from the line,” Fredrickson said.
Fellow Brooklyn Park native Suzanne Gilreath contributed 12 points to the Badgers offense and was called on more heavily Thursday night to guard Bell and Wagner more as her backcourt mates racked up fouls throughout the game.
“Yes and no I just come and play my game and I think being ready to shoot the ball, and taking what they give me,” Gilreath said. “I think whoever they put me on defensively, I just have to be ready to do what I have to do, and play hard and lock and load.”
Junior forward Marsha Howard also secured her fourth double-double of the year and first in conference play with 10 points and 10 rebounds. After an impressive night while dealing with foul trouble she is the leading rebounder for the Badgers and also their second leading scorer.
Wisconsin will return to the Kohl Center Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., looking to beat Northwestern, a team that less than two weeks ago UW had a late lead over, but struggled to close-out.
