MADISON, Wis. – For the first time since 2006-07, the Wisconsin women's basketball team has opened a season 4-0. The Badgers won their fourth straight on Monday night with a 65-64 overtime win over IUPUI in the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin outscored IUPUI in the third quarter, 15-10, using an 7-0 run to lead 46-43 at the end of the period. Sophomore Niya Beverley kicked off the rally with 7:11 on the clock, hitting a 3-pointer to cut the Jaguars lead to 38-34. Marsha Howard scored two straight baskets, knotting the score at 38 with 6:08 to play. IUPUI led 42-38 with 3:26 remaining before another Beverley triple with 1:30 showing put Wisconsin up 44-42.

UW led by as many as six points (54-48) with 6:41 to play in regulation but the Jaguars rallied to take a 58-56 lead with 1:06 to go. Freshman Imani Lewis scored in the paint with 46 seconds left to tie the score at 58. Both teams had a chance to win the game at the free-throw line in the last 40 seconds but neither team could connect on two shots, sending the game into overtime.
 
Down by one, 64-63, senior Marsha Howard made a fast break down the lane with three seconds left in overtime to make the game-winning shot.
 
The Badgers shot 38.6 percent (27-70) from the field to top the Jags' 34.5 percent (20-58). Wisconsin also went 50 percent (5-10) from the 3-point line over IUPUI,who shot 34.5 percent (10-59). The Jags fought back, shooting 63.6 percent from the free-throw line (14-22) while the Badgers made only 40 percent (6-15).
 
UW was led by freshman Imani Lewis, who grabbed a double-double, her second on the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Two other Badgers shot in double figures, Howard with 15 points and Beverley putting up a season-high 12 points and career-high 6 assists.

Wisconsin led the way in assists, tallying 16-12 over IUPUI. The Badgers turned the ball over just 12 times while the Jaguars had 10 turnovers.
 
The Badgers dominated off the glass once again, outrebounding the Jags 47-38.
 
IUPUI was led by Macee Williams, who led the field with 31 points and tallied seven rebounds.
 

THE GAME WINNER!!! pic.twitter.com/zS2AwAvm48

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerWBB) November 20, 2018

The battle was won

There was 11 lead changes throughout the game and eight times the teams were tied.  IUPUI had 22:28 minutes with the lead while the Badgers controlled the lead for 14:33 minutes.
 
With 37 seconds left in overtime, IUPUI Syndey Roule hit a 3-point field goal to put the Jags up 64-62. The Badgers brought the ball up with Howard driving to the basket and getting fouled. The senior made one of two free throws with possession going back to IUPUI with 15 seconds to play. Wisconsin's Kendra Van Leeuwen forced a jump ball with 10 seconds on the clock giving UW a chance to win the game. With three seconds to go, Van Leeuwen passed the ball to Howard who drove the lane for the game-winning basket.
 

Fun Facts

• Senior Marsha Howard scored the game-winning basket with three seconds left in overtime. The 6-foot forward scored a team-high 15 points.
• Freshman Imani Lewis recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• Sophomore Niya Beverley added a season-high 12 points and tied her career best with six assists.
• Wisconsin rebounded its fourth opponent of the season, finishing with a 47-38 advantage over the Jaguars. 
• The Badgers travel to Nashville this weekend for the Challenge in the Music City. Wisconsin takes on Pittsburgh, Tennessee State and Arkansas in the round-robin tournament
  
   

Straight from the court

 
Opening Statement
Head coach Jonathan Tsipis
"I thought our team just kept fighting, kept fighting. We got the lead, and then they came back and (then we) got the lead (again). It was just a great non-conference basketball game. I was so proud about how Marsha (Howard) scored.
 
"Everybody, up and down the line, did some really good things. Niya's (Beverley) baskets, I thought the couple of threes she made when we got in a little bit of foul trouble and then obviously the jumper she made in overtime was a huge basket.
 
"I hope the team is able to see … that on a quick turnaround to then have the game go into overtime to continue to fight. The physicality is one thing, but to have mental toughness in the end gave us a chance to win the game.
 
"The play Kendra (Van Leeuwen) makes, they knew that we were trying to foul (and) they were trying to get the ball in (Holly) Hoopingarner's hands because she hadn't missed a free throw all year. We wanted to trap her but we let some time go off … to be able to get that tie up and for us to get the possession

Senior Marsha Howard
On her game-winning basket: "It felt good, it felt like how anyone would feel making a game-winning basket. I had got down on myself for missing that free throw where I could've tied it up, but then I just continued to play through the adversity and be able to finish out the game."

Junior Kendra Van Leeuwen
On the jump ball: "… everyone was working hard and we were all rotating, and then I just saw an opportunity. They were doubling and she had her eyes down, and when I went for it I made sure this time I grabbed the ball. Everyone was hustling and we just really needed it."
 

Next up

The Badgers travel to Nashville this weekend for the Challenge in the Music City. Wisconsin takes on Pittsburgh, Tennessee State and Arkansas in the round-robin tournament on Friday through Sunday.