Wurtz has big game for Badgers

Monday, Jan. 11, 2010

MADISON — Freshman Taylor Wurtz came off the bench to score a career-high 27 points and grab a personal-best nine rebounds as the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team defeated Michigan,

68-48, in a Big Ten game here Sunday.

Wurtz’s 27 points are the most for a UW player this season and the most for a Badger freshman since Jolene Anderson had 28 against Northwestern in 2005. Wurtz made eight of 11 field-goals attempts, including five of seven three-pointers, and went 4-for-6 from the free- throw line.

For the second straight game, Wisconsin (13-4, 3-3) rode a strong second half to a victory. The Badgers outscored Michigan 42-26 in the second half after outscoring Purdue 36-20 in the second half of their 64-51 win Thursday.

After shooting 37 percent from the field in the first half, Wisconsin made 14 of 25 (65 percent) field-goal attempts in the second half. The Wolverines (10-6, 2-4) turned the ball over 10 times in the second half (14 total) as they became the seventh team to fail to score 50 points against the Badgers this season.

Wisconsin used a 12-0 run early in the second half to break open a tie game. After Michigan got the first two baskets after halftime, UW coach Lisa Stone called a timeout and inserted Wurtz into the lineup.

Lin Zastrow then gave Wisconsin the lead for good with a basket inside off a nifty pass from Teah Gant. Wurtz scored the next six points on three free throws and a three.

Alyssa Karel got her first basket of the game to give Wisconsin a 10-point lead, and Anya Covington capped the run with an offensive rebound and lay-in.

Wisconsin maintained at least an eight-point lead the rest of the way. The Badgers put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run that gave them a 21-point lead with 5:43 left.

Sophomore Jade Davis scored a season-high 10 points off the bench for Wisconsin, while senior point guard Rae Lin D’Alie added eight points and seven assists.

Wisconsin outrebounded Michigan, 37-26, and turned the ball over just 12 times.

Wisconsin plays at 19th-ranked Michigan State on Thursday. The Badgers defeated the Spartans, 62-54, on Dec. 28 in Madison.

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