Wildcats Drop 75-55 Decision At Wisconsin

1/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Jan. 22, 2012

Box Score

Site: Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)
Score: Wisconsin 75, Northwestern 55
Records: NU (12-8, 2-5 Big Ten), Wisconsin (6-13, 2-5 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Thursday, Jan. 26 -- vs. Purdue (Evanston, Ill.) 7 p.m. CT

MADISON, Wis.-- Junior Dannielle Diamant notched her second double-double of the year--a 13-point, 10 rebound effort--but it was not enough as Northwestern dropped a 75-55 decision to Wisconsin at the Kohl Center Sunday. Morgan Jones joined Diamant in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds. With the loss, Northwestern falls to 12-8 on the year and 2-5 in Big Ten play.

"It was a frustrating game for us," head coach Joe McKeown said after the game. "Wisconsin got hot and shot the ball really well in the first half, but I thought if we could cut it to 10 at the 10-minute mark of the second half, we'd have a shot. But, it just didn't happen."

Wisconsin used a 50 percent shooting effort through the first 12 minutes to open up a 23-7 lead. The Wildcats, searching for some offensive production, found it in a three-pointer by Hackney. The junior's bucket sparked a 7-0 Wildcat run to cut the lead to 27-14 at the 6:11-minute mark. But the Badgers continued to have the hot hand, getting 17 first-half points from Morgan Paige, which included five triples. It was one of those three-pointers that gave UW its largest lead of the game--a 23-point margin--with two minutes remaining in the stanza.

Northwestern took the media timeout to compose itself and rattle off five unanswered points to gain a little ground and set the halftime tally at 41-24. Diamant paced NU with eight points, while Morgan Jones added a team-high five rebounds.

The Wildcats outscored Wisconsin 14-8 to start the second frame and pull within 12, 45-32, at the 11:11 mark. But, the Badgers responded with a 13-7 run of their own to build a 62-39 lead with just over seven minutes remaining. Each time Northwestern would start to threaten, Wisconsin would get the crowd of 8,585 back into the game with a key three-pointer or wide-open lay-in. UW held on for its sixth victory of the season.

The Wildcats return to the hardwood at 7 p.m. Thursday when they battle Purdue at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

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