Virginia Hosts Wisconsin Friday In ACC/Big Ten Challenge

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CHARLOTTESVILLE Virginia returns home Friday night for the ACC / Big Ten Challenge and a contest against Wisconsin. The Cavaliers are coming off of a 2-1 showing at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, where they defeated No. 21/22 Texas and Minnesota before falling to Hartford in the championship game of the tournament.

This is the inaugural year for the women’s basketball ACC / Big Ten Challenge. The matchups around the country are as follows: Michigan at Miami, Wake Forest at Northwestern, Georgia Tech at Iowa, Purdue at North Carolina, Illinois at NC State, Clemson at Michigan State, Ohio State at Maryland, Minnesota at Virginia Tech, Florida State at Indiana, Wisconsin at Virginia and Duke at Penn State.

The series between Virginia and Wisconsin is tied, 1-1. Last year, the teams met in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in Madison, Wis., where the Badgers came away with a 84-78 victory on March 25, 2007.

Wisconsin is 2-2 on the season with victories over Cleveland State (82-62, Nov. 9) and Mississippi (74-57, Nov. 23) and losses to Marquette (67-53, Nov. 17) and Wyoming (67-66 OT, Nov. 20). Wisconsin is led by Jolene Anderson, who averages more than 25 points per game. Head coach Lisa Stone is in her fifth season at Wisconsin.

After impressive victories in Honolulu, Hawaii, over No. 21/22 Texas and Minnesota, the Cavaliers made their season debut in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, released Tuesday. Virginia is receiving votes in both polls.