Wisconsin ends UK women's season

Special to the Herald-Leader

MADISON, Wis. — Sophomore center Tara Steinbauer scored four of her game-high 18 points in a critical 6-0 run late in the game to lead Wisconsin past Kentucky 49-45 in the second round of the Women's NIT.

Kentucky, which finished its season 16-16, struggled to score early and trailed 19-16 at halftime. The Cats shot just 21 percent from the field in the first half, hitting 6-for-28 from the field, including 0-for-5 beyond the arc.

"Congratulations to Wisconsin, their defense was outstanding," UK Coach Matthew Mitchell said. "It was one of the toughest defenses we have faced this season.

"We struggled to score today, and we rushed shots early on. That is a credit to their defense."

Seniors Carly Ormerod and Eleia Roddy led the Wildcats with 11 points while sophomore Victoria Dunlap grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with eight points and three blocks.

Despite the offensive woes, Kentucky played solid defense, too, limiting Wisconsin (19-14) to 19-of-60 shooting (31.7 percent) from the floor. The Cats held the Badgers' leading scorer, Alyssa Karel, to just eight points on 3-for-18 shooting. She came in averaging 13.1 points.

But it was Wisconsin's inside game that gave the Cats fits. Steinbauer's burst gave Wisconsin a 44-40 lead with 2:50 to go.

With UK trailing 47-44, the Cats' Carly Morrow was fouled with 12.4 seconds left, and she hit one of two attempts. Steinbauer grabbed the rebound on the missed free throw and was fouled. She hit both free throws with .09 seconds remaining.

Kentucky's 45 points marked the second-lowest output of the season.