UW'S OVERTIME WIN SCORES WITH ALBRIGHT
TOPPLING NEBRASKA `IS AS BIG AS ANY WIN THIS PROGRAM HAS EVER KNOWN.'
Wisconsin State Journal
Madison
Nov 22, 1999
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Authors: Jon Masson Sports reporter
Dateline: LINCOLN, NEB.
Personal Names: Smith, N
Faced with 24th-ranked Nebraska, a hostile crowd, an early deficit and
foul trouble for prized freshman center Nina Smith, the University of Wisconsin
women's basketball team could have cracked.
But Wisconsin held it together and defeated the Cornhuskers, 92- 85, in
overtime to claim the championship game at the Time Warner Cable Classic
before 2,479 spectators Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
"Every time we made a run, every time it looked like we got momentum, they
made the play," Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford said.
UW (2-0) outscored Nebraska, 24-17, in overtime after Badgers guard Tamara
Moore's desperation 30-footer missed at the buzzer to end regulation. The
Badgers overcame 35 turnovers by shooting 50 percent from the field overall,
making six 3-point shots and forcing 32 turnovers by Nebraska (1-1). UW
converted 15 of 18 free throws in overtime.
"I've been coaching a long time and this win here is as big as any win
this program has ever known," said UW coach Jane Albright, whose record
in six seasons at Wisconsin improved to 98-52. "We have so much respect
for Nebraska and that team you have here and Paul Sanderford. And for us
to come in here and play a defensive game like we did was very encouraging
to me. I think Nebraska is as good as everybody said they were."
Badgers forward Jessie Stomski was named the tournament Most Valuable Player
after pouring in 24 points, distributing five assists and grabbing 14 rebounds,
which tied her career high.
"I think everybody on our team has heart, bigger than anybody I've played
with before. Every single person," Stomski said. "We can depend on each
other."
Moore came off the bench and scored 18 points, including converting 10
of 14 free throws. She sank two key 3-point baskets to help UW build an
eight-point lead with 9 minutes, 24 seconds left in the second half.
UW senior guard Kelley Paulus joined Stomski on the all- tournament team.
Paulus added 17 points, including seven in overtime, as Nebraska tried
to shut down Badgers forward LaTonya Sims, who managed to extend her UW
record double-figure scoring streak to 46 games with 14 points. Sims, a
junior, needs four points to reach 1,000 for her career.
"We've played together a lot now," Paulus said. "The WNIT last year really
helped, having extra games. We've been in tough situations before. It says
a lot about our character to be able to have that composure and be able
to compete and do well, especially in a hostile environment like it is
here."
Smith scored 10 points in 24 minutes, but fouled out of her second consecutive
game. She picked up two fouls in the first 5:24. Then, after Albright decided
to see how Smith would play with two fouls, Smith was whistled for her
third while boxing out on a free throw with UW trailing, 13-4, and 14:18
left in the first half.
She eventually fouled out with 34.7 seconds remaining in the second half.
Nebraska's Nicole Kubik, who scored 16 points but was4- for-17 from the
field, made the two free throws after Smith's foul to cut Wisconsin's lead
to 68-66.
Kubik then stole the ball from Stomski and 6-foot-5 Casey Leonhardt scored
the tying basket with 21.5 seconds remaining. The Badgers wanted Moore
to look to pass inside, but the play broke down as regulation time ended.
UW, 5-1 in overtime last season, scored the first seven points of overtime
Sunday. Paulus hit a10-foot jumper, Sims made a3-pointer from the right
wing and reserve center Missy Konieczny scored an inside basket off an
assist from Stomski.
Nebraska guard Brooke Schwartz led all scorers with a career-high 25 points
and also made the all-tournament team.
"I was really disappointed in our effort in the first half," said Sanderford,
whose team trailed,33-26, at halftime. "Again, you have to give the University
of Wisconsin credit. I thought their defense disrupted us. I think they
were very physical and they rebounded the ball tremendously."
In the consolation game, Southern Illinois defeated Georgia Southern, 63-58.
The rest of the all-tournament team included Nebraska's Charlie Rogers,
Southern Illinois' Melaniece Bardley and Georgia Southern's Danna Simpson.
WISCONSIN
min fg fga ft fta reb pf a pt Sims 29 5 11 3 4 6 3 0 14 Stomski 44 8 13
7 8 14 3 5 24 N. Smith 24 5 7 0 1 6 5 0 10 Paulus 36 5 14 5 6 1 1 1 17
Pate 33 2 4 0 1 2 5 5 4 C. Smith 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 Hefte 9 0 1 0 0 1 0
0 0 Moore 28 3 7 10 14 5 4 3 18 Bird 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Konieczny 13 2 2
1 2 1 0 1 5 Totals 225 30 60 26 36 39 23 16 92
NEBRASKA
min fg fga ft fta reb pf a pt Rogers 30 7 12 0 0 10 5 0 14 Gilmore 35 2
3 4 6 1 3 0 8 Leonhardt 28 5 9 0 1 6 4 0 10 Schwartz 41 10 16 3 3 4 2 4
25 Kubik 37 4 17 8 11 1 5 9 16 Jaracz 7 1 2 1 2 3 2 0 3 Kelly 6 0 0 0 1
1 0 0 0 Went 22 2 5 0 0 2 4 4 4 Roberts 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 3 Jones 13 0 1
2 4 5 3 0 2 Sutton 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Totals 225 32 68 18 28 39 28 18 85
Rebounding totals include team rebounds Wisconsin 333524-92 Nebraska 264217-85
Three-point goals - Wisconsin 6-14 (Moore 2-5, Paulus 2-6, Sims 1- 1, Stomski
1-1, Hefte 0-1), Nebraska 3-10 (Schwartz 2-3, Roberts 1- 2, Went 0-1, Jaracz
0-1, Kubik 0-3). Field-goal percentages - Wisconsin .500, Nebraska .471.
Free-throw percentages - Wisconsin .722, Nebraska .643. Turnovers - Wisconsin
35, Nebraska 32. Att. - 2,479.