Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball lost 75-57 to the Kansas State Wildcats in their first away game of the season Sunday.
Both teams entered this game with a 3-0 record against non-conference teams.This is the third time these teams have met, and their matchup record was split 1-1 before Sunday’s game.
Kansas State was coming off a win against the now-No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes, who were No. 2 in the NCAA standings before playing the Wildcats.
Senior Brooke Schramek, sophomore Ronnie Porter, sophomore Sania Copeland, senior Natalie Leuzinger and sophomore Serah Williams started for the Badgers. Copeland got her first career start in her home state of Kansas.
The Badgers had a slow start to the first quarter, but Porter was able to get things started for Wisconsin about halfway through the first quarter. Wisconsin had a total of seven turnovers in the quarter, compared to Kansas State’s one. Kansas State led17-9 after the first quarter, the Badgers’ lowest first-quarter scoring performance this season.
A layup from Williams gave the Badgers their scoring start in the second quarter. Kansas State led by as much as 17 in the quarter, but Williams scored nine points to help Wisconsin lessen the Wildcats’ lead to 10 points at the end of the quarter. The score was 35-25 going into halftime.
Wisconsin had six turnovers in the quarter, and made only four of their 12 attempted shots, with six points coming from Porter. The Wildcats outscored the Badgers 25-9 to rack up a hefty 60-34 lead headed into the final quarter.
Wisconsin was able to jab at Kansas State’s lead, lowering it to 16 points as Williams scored eight points in the quarter to help the Badgers offensively. The Badgers scored 23 points as a team and showcased their hustle mentality, but Kansas State eventually won 75-57.
Williams led all scorers with a season-high score of 22 points and nine rebounds. Porter had 15 points, six assists and three steals. Brooke Schramek notched 11 points and nine rebounds.
Wisconsin is now 3-1 after Saturday’s loss, snapping a three-game winning streak to start their season.
The Badgers will head to Fort Myers, Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Nov. 23-25. They will face Arkansas on Nov. 24.
