UW women's basketball: Badgers one and done at Big Ten Conference tournament
INDIANAPOLIS - There won't be an NCAA tournament invitation extended to the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team this season.
The Badgers' apathetic performance in a 73-58 first-round setback Thursday night against Illinois at Conseco Fieldhouse made sure of that. Now, they have to wait to learn if a return to the Women's National Invitation Tournament is a plausible option for their postseason plans.
Senior guard Jolene Anderson, the media Big Ten Player of the Year, had game highs with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the loss for eighth-seeded UW (16-13), which came into the game with victories in eight of its last 11 games.
Sophomore forward Jenna Smith, an all-Big Ten first team pick, spearheaded a balanced offensive attack with 21 points and 10 boards to help the ninth-seeded Fighting Illini (17-13) advance to the quarterfinals and a game against top-seeded Ohio State Friday afternoon.
Anderson scored five points to pull Wisconsin within three points at two junctures over the final 2 minutes, 24 seconds of the first half, but Illinois pushed its lead to six at 34-28 at intermission.
Anderson hit a jumper with 18:31 left in the
game to trim Illinois' lead to 34-30, but the
Illini then went on a 20-5 run to secure the victory.
The Badgers shot a dreadful 25.6 percent from the field (10-of-39) in the second half and were outrebounded 46-36 by the Illini in the game.
Senior forward Danielle Ward scored 12 points and added nine boards, and freshman guard Alyssa Karel came off the bench and added 10 points for the Badgers, who split a two-game series against Illinois during the regular season.
