Pioneers fall to Wisconsin Badgers
Nov. 13, 2005
By Paul Erickson, Sports Information Director
The difference between NCAA Division I and Division III became apparent as soon as the UW-Platteville women's basketball team pulled up to UW-Madison's Kohl Center.
"I was just impressed that we could take the bus right into the Kohl Center and had the door shut behind us," Pioneer senior Holly Kaiser said.
Once the game began, the Badgers shut the door on the Pioneers, as Wisconsin rolled to an 88-33 exhibition victory Sunday before 5,441 fans in the Kohl Center.
After Lisa Wubben tied the score at 2-2 on a back-door cut, the Badgers rolled off 15 straight points and never trailed again. They led 50-13 at the half and won their second straight exhibition contest.
Kaiser led the Pioneers with 13 points, while Wubben had five points, five rebounds and three assists.
The much-taller Badgers hit 55 percent of their shots in the first half and 49.4 percent overall while holding a 58-28 advantage on the boards. Four players scored in double figures, led by Jolene Anderson with 19 points, while Janese Banks had 17, Jordan Wilson 11 and Danielle Ward 10.
"It was a really good experience for the team," Pioneer Coach Tina Kuhle said. "It's something the kids will remember forever. We'll obviously take more from this than the Badgers. This showed our weaknesses and what we need to work on."
Even though the score was lopsided, Badger Coach Lisa Stone appreciated the effort the Pioneers gave throughout all 40 minutes.
"We have a lot to work on," said Stone, the former UW-Eau Claire coach. "Defensively, we did some good things and some things that we need to work on. But I credit Platteville. They tried a lot of different things, a lot of different defensive looks, a press, a zone, a switching man-to-man defense. They kept competing and that's hats off to them. This game is less about the scoreboard and more about the experience. We need to stay intense and not be tentative in any juncture."
Kaiser said the team will remember this experience for a long time.
"It will be fun to watch them on TV and say, 'I played against her' and 'I guarded her,'" she said.
The Pioneers begin playing for real this weekend in the Lake Forest tournament. UWP plays Concordia of Mequon Friday at 6 p.m. Concordia (Ill.) plays Lake Forest in the 8 p.m. game. The consolation contest is Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by the championship game.
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