Photo by: Jack McLaughlin
Meet the Badgers: Kara Crowley
January 05, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Freshman is a Badger for life
MADISON, Wis. -- For freshman Kara Crowley, growing up in Wisconsin meant that she's always been a Badger fan. It also helped that her mother Karen (O'Malley) played basketball for Wisconsin from 1985-87. Â
As a prep, Crowley her played her first three seasons at Dodgeville High School, earning first-team all-Southwest Wisconsin conference honors. The 5-foot-10-inch forward moved to Beaver Dam as a senior, captaining the Beavers' 2017 State Division 2 Championship team. She averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game as a senior while also scoring 1,000 career points.
At UW, Crowley has played in six games. She scored a career-high three points vs. Savannah State on Dec. 10 while she had a career-best three rebounds at Purdue on Dec. 31.
What was it like growing up in Wisconsin and now being able to represent your state and hometown as a Wisconsin Badger?
"Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Badger athletics was a huge part of everyone's lives. It is so surreal to think back of the time where I was one of the thousands of little girls who just dreamed of the chance to be a Badger, and now I get to represent the Wisconsin uniform daily.
"This opportunity makes me feel as though I can be a role model for all the young kids in small towns and can also teach them that through hard work both on the court and in the classroom, they are destined for success."
Your mom played for the Badgers in the 1980s. What is it like to be a second generation player? What did she teach you about being a Badger?Â
"My mom has been my basketball coach for as long as I can remember. She started coaching me around first grade in 3-on-3 tournaments, coached all my closest friends and I up until eighth grade, helped with AAU and high school ball, and she continues to coach me on the sidelines to this day.
"The easiest voice to pick out of the crowd is my mom's, whether I like it or not. She, along with the rest of my family, have always taught me to make my own path but to know how great my support system is behind me. It is such an amazing feeling knowing I can make my family proud of what I'm doing.Â
What is the biggest thing you've worked on to improve your game in your first few months of college?Â
"An area that I believe I have improved the most here in my first few months is learning how to become a more versatile player."
What has been the biggest adjustment from high school/AAU ball to college basketball?
"Everyone in college basketball was the best player in their high school program, so naturally the competition is bigger, faster, stronger, and also has a higher basketball I.Q. than what I am used to coming in as a freshman.Â
What's your favorite activity or place in Madison?Â
"I love finding new places to eat on State Street."
What is one thing this team has that is different from teams you've played with in the past?Â
"One thing that is different than any other team of mine is that everyone comes from a different background, whether it's Texas, Canada, Chicago, or rural Wisconsin. It is fun to learn about everyone's experiences back home, especially when you learn that some people did not realize that getting stuck behind a tractor on the road is actually very common."
As a prep, Crowley her played her first three seasons at Dodgeville High School, earning first-team all-Southwest Wisconsin conference honors. The 5-foot-10-inch forward moved to Beaver Dam as a senior, captaining the Beavers' 2017 State Division 2 Championship team. She averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game as a senior while also scoring 1,000 career points.
At UW, Crowley has played in six games. She scored a career-high three points vs. Savannah State on Dec. 10 while she had a career-best three rebounds at Purdue on Dec. 31.
What was it like growing up in Wisconsin and now being able to represent your state and hometown as a Wisconsin Badger?
"Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Badger athletics was a huge part of everyone's lives. It is so surreal to think back of the time where I was one of the thousands of little girls who just dreamed of the chance to be a Badger, and now I get to represent the Wisconsin uniform daily.
"This opportunity makes me feel as though I can be a role model for all the young kids in small towns and can also teach them that through hard work both on the court and in the classroom, they are destined for success."
Your mom played for the Badgers in the 1980s. What is it like to be a second generation player? What did she teach you about being a Badger?Â
"My mom has been my basketball coach for as long as I can remember. She started coaching me around first grade in 3-on-3 tournaments, coached all my closest friends and I up until eighth grade, helped with AAU and high school ball, and she continues to coach me on the sidelines to this day.
"The easiest voice to pick out of the crowd is my mom's, whether I like it or not. She, along with the rest of my family, have always taught me to make my own path but to know how great my support system is behind me. It is such an amazing feeling knowing I can make my family proud of what I'm doing.Â
What is the biggest thing you've worked on to improve your game in your first few months of college?Â
"An area that I believe I have improved the most here in my first few months is learning how to become a more versatile player."
What has been the biggest adjustment from high school/AAU ball to college basketball?
"Everyone in college basketball was the best player in their high school program, so naturally the competition is bigger, faster, stronger, and also has a higher basketball I.Q. than what I am used to coming in as a freshman.Â
What's your favorite activity or place in Madison?Â
"I love finding new places to eat on State Street."
What is one thing this team has that is different from teams you've played with in the past?Â
"One thing that is different than any other team of mine is that everyone comes from a different background, whether it's Texas, Canada, Chicago, or rural Wisconsin. It is fun to learn about everyone's experiences back home, especially when you learn that some people did not realize that getting stuck behind a tractor on the road is actually very common."
Players Mentioned
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