MADISON — Wisconsin sophomore guard and Monroe graduate Sydney Hilliard was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for her efforts this past season. She was joined by teammate Imani Lewis. Lewis was picked to the second team by conference media, and honorable mention by coaches. Hilliard was honorable mention by both media and coaches.
The awards were announced March 8, a day before the Big Ten Tournament began.
Hilliard led the Badgers in scoring (15.5 points per game), total assists (95), was second in steals (21) and averaged 5.3 rebounds. She shot 47.9% from the floor, 31.6% from 3-point range and 74.0% from the free throw line. Her shooting percentage from the field and minutes players were also the highest on the team. She started all 22 games this season and scored in double figures 18 times. She was named Academic All-Big Ten, and earlier in the season in December she made the Big Ten Honor Roll.
Lewis averaged 15.0 ppg and 8.8 rebounds per night down in the post. She was second on the team in minutes played. Her 11 double-doubles were the third most in Big Ten this season.
Wisconsin senior teammate Estella Moschkau, a Madison Edgewood graduate, was the Big Ten Sportsmanship award winner.
Michigan’s Naz Hillmon was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, while Northwestern’s Veronica Burton was the Defensive Player of the Year, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark the Freshman of the Year, and Penn State’s Maddie Burke was picked as the Sixth Player of the Year. Maryland’s Brenda Frese was the Coach of the Year.
In total on the season for the Badgers, Monroe’s Sydney Mathiason saw action in nine games and finished with 3 rebounds. Black Hawk graduate, Natalie Leuzinger, a walk-on freshman, played in 11 games and scored two points on free throws in a Feb. 20 game against Northwestern.
Badgers lose tournament opener, fire coach Tsipis
In the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois rolled Wisconsin 67-42. The Badgers fell behind 24-2 after the first quarter and started the game 0-for-19 from the field. Hilliard and Lewis led Wisconsin in scoring with 11 points each.
After the game, Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez announced that head coach Jonathan Tsipis had been fired.
“I appreciate Coach Tsipis’ efforts during his five years with us, but we feel it is time for a new direction for our women’s basketball program,” Alvarez said in a statement. “I wish Jonathan the best as he moves forward.”
One day after Tsipis’ firing, Lewis told the Wisconsin State Journal in a text message she would be entering the transfer portal.
Before arriving in Madison, Tsipis went 92-38 at George Washington, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and 2016. In five years at Wisconsin, his team never won more than four conference games. The Badger were 5-19 this season and 2-18 in the Big Ten. Tsipis went 50-99 overall in Madison, and 16-74 in the Big Ten.
The Badgers last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2010, and its most recent season with a winning record came in 2010-11, the final year under coach Lisa Stone.
