Madison, Wisc. - Bradley Women's Basketball (0-3) was on the road for the second time in three games on Wednesday night, both being power five conference opponents. The opposition this time around was the Wisconsin Badgers (3-1).
RAINING BUCKY
Wisconsin wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, landing a jumper from Julie Pospisilova 11 seconds into the game.
Caroline Waite, however, quickly answered with a three to give Bradley a 3-2 lead at the 9:27 mark. That would be the Braves' first and only lead.
Bradley got a pair of free throws from
Isis Fitch to keep it at a three-point game, but that's when the Badgers caught fire. A three-point game quickly became a 24-9 deficit. The Braves hit double figures on a three-pointer from Fitch to make it 24-12. By quarter's end, Wisconsin had already hit six shots from distance, and assisted on all 12 of their made baskets.
FRESHMAN SIX
The second quarter, by the time the clock hit zeros, would be an exact duplicate of the first by point totals. Bradley got their quarter scoring going on a pull-up from Waite to make it 32-14. The Badgers' Maty Wilke would be the primary concern in the quarter, going 5-5 from the field (1-1 from three) for 11 second quarter points.
Bradley made a line change roughly three minutes in, and it seemed to pay off, with
Reagan Barkema hitting a trey to make it 38-19 Badgers. The freshman would hit another one just over two minutes later to cut the point spread back within 20 points. The Badgers made a three of their own with under a minute until the half to go up by 30 points.
SECOND HALF, ANOTHER HOT START
Halftime, of course, provides the opportunity to effectively hit the reset button, re-assess, and figure out improvements for the second half. Wisconsin, although up 30+ points, found a way to improve further. The first four minutes out of the locker room saw the hosts go on a 12-0 run to increase their lead to 48 points.
Isis Fitch was able to capitalize off of the offensive rebound from
Daija Powell and hit a jumper. That made it 72-26 Wisconsin with 6:20 to go. Sparta, Wisconsin native
Callie Ziebell converted a free throw opportunity at the 4:48 mark.
Back came the three-pointers, and in a flurry at that.
Caroline Waite made a pair of threes within two minutes' time, the latter of which had the Wisconsin lead at 83-35.
Isis Fitch had made a layup with seconds remaining in the quarter, but the Badgers weren't satisfied. Serah Williams ran the floor for a buzzer-beating fast break layup, and Wisconsin had an even 50 point lead headed to the fourth.
TRIPLE DIGITS
Alex Rouse got the Braves off on the right foot to begin the fourth quarter, dropping in a layup just 27 seconds in.
Ruba Abo Hashesh hit a shot from distance exactly a minute later, and Bradley, albeit with work to do, looked like they may start chipping away at the wide margin.
Just as soon as that happened, Wisconsin went on a 12-3 run to go up 99-45. Before the Badgers could hit triple digits,
Katy Wade scored her first career points on a layup with four minutes left.
That fateful shot came about a minute and a half later on a second-chance layup, and just like that, it was 101-47. The bucket gave a Bradley opponent 100 or more points for the first time since the Oklahoma Sooners put 104 on the board back in November of 2014.
Free throws from Wade and
Megan Barton wrapped up Bradley's scoring for the night, and Wisconsin came away with a 103-49 win.
NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES
Caroline Waite scored 11 points and went 3-4 from behind the arc.
Isis Fitch added 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Alex Rouse scored 8 points and had 4 assists.
Reagan Barkema hit the two second-quarter threes for her 6 points.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BRAVES
vs. McNeese State Cowgirls
Saturday, November 19th - 12PM
@ Carver Arena - Peoria, Ill.
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