Wisconsin clinches a nail-biting victory against their rival Gophers on home turf.
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team secured a hard-fought victory against the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a score of 59-56 at the Kohl Center on Tuesday night.
This marked the first encounter between the Badgers and Golden Gophers this season and the 85th meeting in their rivalry history. Minnesota had previously led the series with 47 wins compared to Wisconsin’s 38.
Before Tuesday’s match, Wisconsin held an 8-9 overall record and a 1-6 standing in the Big Ten, while Minnesota boasted a 14-4 overall record and a 4-3 standing in the conference.
The Badgers, featuring senior Brooke Schramek, sophomores Ronnie Porter, Sania Copeland, Natalie Leuzinger, and Serah Williams in the starting lineup, immediately asserted themselves after winning the tip-off. They took an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter with consecutive scores from Williams and Copeland.
Despite Wisconsin’s strong start, both teams struggled to score, with Wisconsin leading 13-6 at the end of the quarter. The Golden Gophers closed in on the Badgers’ lead in the second quarter, taking a one-point advantage with less than five minutes remaining. However, Wisconsin responded with two crucial 3-pointers from freshman Tessa Grady, ending the half ahead 26-24.
Minnesota continued to chip away at Wisconsin’s lead in the third quarter, tying the game at 30 with six minutes left. However, Grady’s impactful performance, including a 3-point basket, helped the Badgers regain momentum and secure a 10-point lead. The lead fluctuated throughout the final quarter, with Wisconsin leading for the majority of the time.
A pivotal moment came when a reversed call on a 3-point shot gave the Golden Gophers a narrow lead of 47-46. Nevertheless, back-to-back 3-pointers from Williams and Grady propelled the Badgers to victory. Williams led all scorers with 24 points and 15 rebounds, securing her fifth double-double of the season.
In a postgame interview, head coach Marisa Moseley praised Williams as one of the best post players in the country. Grady also contributed significantly with 15 points, all from 3-pointers. Minnesota’s scoring was led by freshman Grace Grocholski with 13 points.
This win marked the Wisconsin women’s basketball team’s third consecutive victory against Minnesota. The team is set to face Rutgers at the Kohl Center on Saturday, January 27th.
In addition, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team also emerged victorious against Minnesota with a score of 61-59 on Tuesday night. Across various sports, including football, volleyball, hockey, and swim and dive, the Badgers have displayed dominance over the Golden Gophers this season.
