MADISON, Wis. – A strong second-half effort wasn't enough for the Wisconsin women's basketball team as it fell to North Carolina 72-59 Thursday night at the Kohl Center.

Despite outscoring the Tar Heels (6-1) 34-25 in the second half, the Badgers (2-6) couldn't overcome a slow start in their ACC/Big Ten Challenge tilt.

"You break a game into two halves and then I just felt like our team was what you saw in the second half from an effort and an ability to compete," head coach Jonathan Tsipis said. "We're never satisfied losing and I think a goal of our team is to be competitive and continue to put those pieces together for longer periods of time and I'm proud of our group, of how we finished. We've got to grow and be able to go from start to finish."

Senior Avyanna Young recorded her third double-double of the season, with 12 points and 12 boards, to lead UW. Her nine defensive rebounds were a season-high for the Milwaukee native. She has led the Badgers in both points and rebounds for two consecutive games.

"I just have to stay consistent with [rebounding] because I know that's what I have to do to help my team, to help us to win games," Young added. "We have to stay on the boards."

Junior Cayla McMorris recorded 11 points, marking the eighth time this season she's recorded double-figure points. Freshman Suzanne Gilreath logged a career-high 11 points off the bench thanks to a trio of 3-pointers.  

"I know I get in the gym a lot, so just being ready and having the confidence and the momentum going in off the bench," Gilreath added. "Just being ready when my name is called. That's really it."

In the first, North Carolina raced out to a 17-4 lead en route to a 23-11 advantage in the opening quarter.

The Tar Heels built a 47-25 lead at half as UW freshmen Courtney Fredrickson and Gilreath each tallied five points in the first 20 minutes of action.

But the Badgers battled back in the third quarter, outscoring the Tar Heels 15-10 thanks to eight points by Young, including a put-back jumper as the buzzer sounded to end the frame. Howard scored four of her nine points in the quarter while UW held UNC without a bucket for 5:35 to trim the Tar Heels' lead to 57-40.

Wisconsin got within 12 points in the fourth quarter after McMorris scored a layup with 4:18 remaining to reach double-figures for the eighth time this season.

With 1:07 remaining, UW made it a 10-point game (69-59) after Gilreath knocked in her third triple of the game, the Tar Heels countered as Stephanie Watts hit her sixth 3-pointer to put the game out of reach.

Wisconsin outscored North Carolina 19-15 in the final frame.

"We gave ourselves a chance to get back into the game and I think that part, a lot of that was our kids and trying to challenge them at half time, but they took it upon themselves," Tsipis said. "I think we look at that as a great learning example, but we can't wait until there's 20 minutes on the scoreboard in half number two. I think North Carolina came out and went right at us and put us on our heels, even off the tip.

"I felt like in the second quarter we got good shots, we didn't take great care of the ball. In the third, we didn't shoot it necessarily great, but we were on the glass and we did just a great job. You can shoot 33 percent and still outscore somebody."

Wisconsin outrebounded North Carolina 45-40, and outscored the Tar Heels 38-34 in the paint. The Badgers' bench enjoyed a stellar night, accounting for 28 points and UW committed a season-low 13 turnovers.

"I think that's something we talked about as a staff is we had 16 offensive rebounds and 11 second-chance points and they had 12 and 18," Tsipis said. "I think that part, we at least have to get to the line. I think that's where we've been really aggressive and one of our strengths is that we have gotten to the line a lot through the first six games of the year."

The Badgers hit the road for a battle at Illinois State on Sunday. Tipoff in Normal, Illinois, is set for 2 p.m.