University of Wisconsin freshman point guard Candas Smith, a former Madison West star, decided Monday night that she will play this season.

Smith, who suffered severe facial injuries in an auto accident in late August, was cleared by team doctors to return to practice Oct. 30. Smith said then she would take a few weeks to decide whether she would play this season, or use it as a redshirt year.

"I just decided (Monday) night to play,'' said Smith. "I just thought about it and decided I was ready.''

Smith played 7 minutes Tuesday night and did not score. She played with a plastic facemask, which made ballhandling and defending difficult because it blocks her peripheral vision.

Revolving starters: UW coach Jane Albright started Dee Dee Pate and Kelley Paulus at guards, and Tamara Moore, LaTonya Sims and Jessie Stomski in the frontcourt vs. AIA, while Nina Smith came off the bench.

Albright said she will use a six-player rotation over the first six games to determine her starting five. Going by the plan, Smith will now start the next five games, with each of Tuesday night's starters taking a turn coming off the bench.

"It's really probably the nicest problem I've ever had in my life,'' Albright said of having six potential starters.

Those six UW players scored 68 of UW's 76 points vs. AIA.

Next game at Field House: The Badgers' final exhibition game Monday night vs. a Brazilian club team will be held at the UW Field House at 7 p.m. instead of the Kohl Center.

The Field House venue is being used in case the UW earns the right to host first and second-round NCAA Tournament games.

The NCAA requires that a venue must be used once during the season in order to host tournament games. Should the UW receive a host bid for the 2000 NCAA Tournament, it would play games in the Field House because of a conflict with those dates at the Kohl Center.