The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 73-62 Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
Prior to the game, Wisconsin sat at a 9-9 record and was 2-6 in the Big Ten. Rutgers had a 6-16 record and was 0-9 in the conference.
Senior Brooke Schramek, sophomore Ronnie Porter, sophomore Sania Copeland, senior Natalie Leuzinger and sophomore Serah Williams started for the Badgers.
The Badgers scored quickly in the first quarter. Two back-to-back scoring drives from Williams ignited a fire in the team.
Both teams struggled with turnovers and ball security throughout the quarter. Five combined turnovers from both sides came from traveling violations. However, Rutgers committed more turnovers with seven in the quarter.
Wisconsin also played well defensively, holding the Scarlet Knights to only three points in the quarter. The score going into the second quarter was 22-3. This was the second time in program history the Badgers allowed an opponent to only score three points in a quarter.
The Badgers continued to defend well, holding Rutgers' scoring under double-digits until well into the second quarter.
Williams committed two fouls in the second, resulting in her sitting out the majority of the quarter.
With Williams in foul trouble, senior Halle Douglass subbed in to help the Badgers. Douglass had five points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer that gave Wisconsin a comfortable 15-point lead entering halftime.
Rutgers capitalized on Williams’ foul trouble, easily getting her to commit her third foul seconds into the third quarter.
With Williams on the bench, the Scarlet Knights cut the lead down to single digits. Rutgers found a lot of their scoring in their center, Kassondra Brown.
Despite foul trouble, head coach Marisa Moseley expressed confidence in Williams by continuing to play her. The Badgers ended the quarter with a 17-point lead, yet Williams ended the quarter with her fourth foul.
What the Badgers thought was a comfortable lead was quickly cut down by the Scarlet Knights in the fourth quarter.
A pair of 3-pointers from Rutgers’ guard Jillian Huerter made it a six-point game with less than five minutes remaining. Shooting runs in the family, as Huerter’s brother is NBA guard Kevin Huerter of the Sacramento Kings.
Another 3-pointer from Williams gave the Badgers a much-needed spark to create a larger lead to end the game.
Rutgers continued to fight and bring down the lead, but the Scarlet Knights were unsuccessful. Wisconsin finished the game with a 73-62 victory.
Leading all scorers, Williams notched her sixth consecutive double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Porter had 11 points and nine assists.
Williams had four blocks, while Porter had three steals. Both players lead the Big Ten in their respective categories.
Although they won the game, the Badgers struggled from the 3-point line, shooting 5-26 as a team. Williams, who rarely attempts 3-point shots, made both of her shots in clutch times for Wisconsin.
The Badgers committed more turnovers in the game, with 19 compared to the Scarlet Knights’ 16. Rutgers was able to convert those turnovers to 19 points, but they were ultimately outplayed in every other aspect.
Rutgers’ Mya Petticord led her team in scoring with 15 points and six rebounds. Huerter finished the game with seven points and shot 50% from the 3-point line.
Saturday’s matchup was the first between the Badgers and Scarlet Knights this season. Rutgers leads the overall series 10-5.
Wisconsin will travel to Columbus, Ohio Thursday to take on the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes are coming off an upset win over the No. 5 Hawkeyes.
