Revenge was swift and sweet for Wisconsin as the Badgers (4-11 Big Ten, 13-14 overall) won confidently against Illinois (2-14 Big Ten, 10-17 overall) in a 75-67 grudge match Wednesday night. The game knots the overall series record at 37-37 as both teams have exchanged wins with each other this season.
In the first quarter, senior Marsha Howard, who has averaged 20.7 points per game in the last six contests, continued to make the most of her final few games, leading the team with nine points in the first frame thanks to steady free throw shooting and aggressive defense that lead to fast-break scores.
Illinois responded by dialing it up from deep, but only came away with two makes on eight attempts. Illinois forward Alex Wittinger’s skill in the midrange inspired a balanced performance from the rest of her squad, with four other players joining the freshman on the scoreboard.That balance scoring kept the game close and the tension palable, with the score knotted at 16 at the first buzzer.
Wisconsin’s supporting cast played their part in the second quarter as sophomore Niya Beverley, junior Suzanne Gilreath, and senior Kelly Karlis kept the team above water. Beverley responded to Illinois junior Cierra Rice’s three pointer with one of her own and Karlis answered freshman Mackenzie Blazek’s hook-shot with a smooth Euro-step.
Gilreath capped it off with an emphatic reply to junior Ali Andrews shot clock buzzer-beater with a game clock buzzer-beating three of her own. Gilreath’s shot capped off a 7-0 run and pushed the lead to 36-29.
The third quarter started off strong for Wisconsin as Howard ripped off her own 7-0 run with a mid-ranger, a hook-shot and a very rare three. Add in another triple by Gilreath and strong defensive rebounding led by Karlus and freshman Imani Lewis, and the team was once again firing on all cylinders.
The Badgers forced the Illini starters to do everything, as they were able to hold the Illinois bench to nothing in the entire second half. This worked effectively on Wittinger, as the Badgers strategically tried to tire her out on defense so that she would be fatigued by the time she got the ball on offense. In the absence of Wittinger, Andrews and junior Brandi Beasley kept their team relevant and Wisconsin only up 54-43 as the third quarter drew to a close.
In the fourth quarter, Illinois, fighting to survive, willed its way to a 9-2 run as a second chance score by senior Wittinger and a couple of fast-break scores pulled the Illini within seven at 59-52.
Wisconsin quickly responded with a 10-0 run its own featuring junior Abby Laszewski’s first and only score of the game, a well-timed assist from Karlis to Howard, and an “and-one” by Beverley.
Illinois’ five-minute offensive drought seemed to signal its doomed fate, but Beasley’s last-minute, eleven-point effort provided a late shock to the Badgers. However, steady free throw shooting by juniors Kendra Van Leeuwen and Suzanne Gilreath was able to wipe away any chance of a comeback and leave the home crowd smiling as the final buzzer rung with the scoreboard reading 75-67.
