The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team outplayed the Minnesota Golden Gophers 59-56 Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers and Golden Gophers met for the first time this season and the 85th time in rivalry history. Before Tuesday, Minnesota led the series with 47 wins to Wisconsin’s 38.
Prior to Tuesday’s match, Wisconsin was 8-9 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten. Minnesota was 14-4 and 4-3 in the conference.
Senior Brooke Schramek, sophomore Ronnie Porter, sophomore Sania Copeland, senior Natalie Leuzinger and sophomore Serah Williams started for the Badgers.
After winning the tip-off, the Badgers immediately began showcasing their skills on both ends of the court. Back-to-back scoring from Williams and Copeland gave Wisconsin a 4-0 lead to start the quarter.
As Minnesota struggled to convert on their shot attempts, the Badgers snagged multiple defensive rebounds, ending the quarter with 11 rebounds. Both teams scored low in the quarter, with Wisconsin leading 13-6 going into the second.
Tn the second quarterhe Golden Gophers started to chip away at the Badgers’ lead in the second quarter and took a one point lead with less than five minutes remaining.
Two made 3-pointers from freshman Tessa Grady gave a spark to the Badgers’ offense. Minnesota tightened the score, ending the quarter behind the Badgers 26-24.
The Golden Gophers continued to trim the Badgers’ lead, cutting it down to one at the beginning of the third quarter. Wisconsin struggled to take care of the ball, missing multiple scoring opportunities. Minnesota took these missed opportunities and converted on their end of the court to tie the game at 30 with six minutes left in the quarter.
Grady was a key player for Wisconsin in the quarter, hitting a 3-point basket to give the Badgers their largest lead of the game at 10 points. Grady scored six points in the quarter, all from 3-pointers.
The lead swapped back and forth between the teams throughout the final quarter, with Wisconsin leading the majority of the ten minutes.
A reversed call on a 3-point shot made by Leuzinger gave the Golden Gophers a 47-46 lead. The call was reversed due to a foul seconds before the shot.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Williams and Grady gave the Badgers some much-needed momentum to finish the game on top. Wisconsin had a four-point lead with under two minutes to play.
Minnesota’s only chance to stay in the game was by fouling, which ultimately sent many Badgers to the free throw line. Two missed free throws from Schramek changed the dynamic of the game and gave Minnesota another chance to score, but Wisconsin was able to solidify the win over the Golden Gophers, 59-56.
Williams, who led all scorers on the night, claimed her fifth double-double of the season with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
In a postgame interview, head coach Marisa Moseley said Williams is “absolutely” one of the best post players in the country.
Behind Williams, Grady had an efficient scoring night with 15 points, all from behind the arc. Minnesota’s scoring was led by freshman and Wisconsin native Grace Grocholski with 13 points.
Tuesday’s win marked the Wisconsin women’s basketball team’s third straight win against Minnesota.
Across the border at the Williams Center, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team also defeated Minnesota, 61-59, Tuesday night. This season, the Badgers have defeated the Golden Gophers in football, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s hockey, and men’s and women’s swim and dive.
The Wisconsin women’s basketball team will take on Rutgers at the Kohl Center Jan. 27 on Saturday.
