Box Score MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team topped Tennessee State, 58-53, behind a strong final quarter in the second round of the Challenge in Music City. The Badgers extend their undefeated season, going 6-0 for the first time since 2006-07.

Wisconsin started the first quarter down by seven, 9-2, with 6:10 to go in the quarter. Shooting 88.9 percent (8-9) from the free-throw line helped the Badgers tie the game, 14-14, at the end of the quarter.

UW opened the second quarter with a 12-0 run to take a 26-14 lead. Junior Abby Laszewski added eight of those 12 points. The Badgers outscored the Lady Tigers 17-5 in the second quarter to push the lead to 31-19 at the half.

TSU came back in the third quarter outscoring UW 21-12. The Lady Tigers used a 9-0 run to help them come back within seven, 35-28, with 5:54 to go in the third.

In a fourth quarter battle, TSU took their first lead since the first quarter, 48-47, with 6:13 left to play. A 3-pointer by Alex Luehring with 2:29 to go extended the lead to four, 56-52. Luehring showed strength under pressure as she went 2-for-2 for free throws with eight seconds left in the game to seal the win.

Wisconsin was led by senior Marsha Howard with 15 points. Laszewski and Luehring also scored in double figures with both putting up 11 points. Laszewski added a game-high nine rebounds.

As a team, UW shot 21-52 (40.4 percent) from the field but just 3-17 (17.6 percent) from 3-point range after shooting 0-9 in the first half. The Badgers came up with big points from the free throw line, shooting 56.5 percent (13-23).

UW continues to dominate off the glass as they out-rebounded TSU 47-35.

Tennessee State was led by Taylor Roberts with a game-high 25 points and grabbing six rebounds and two steals.

 

3 point lead, eight seconds left in the game, @allueh brought to the line, and she MAKES BOTH FREE THROWS.

She's a monster under pressure.

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerWBB) November 25, 2018

Turning Point

With TSU taking the lead 49-48 at the 4:34 mark of the fourth quarter, Kelly Karlis made a jumper to take back the lead, 50-49 at the 4:15 mark. Alex Luehring seals the deal with a 3-pointer with 2:29 left to play, 53-49, and sinking both free throws in the last eight seconds of the game to win by five, 58-53.

 

Fun Facts

• For the second straight game, redshirt freshman Alex Luehring recorded double-figure points, finishing second on the team with 11 points.
• Freshman Jasmine Hale played her second game of the season, scoring a career high three points while adding career bests of four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• The Badgers used their fourth different starting lineup of the season with redshirt sophomore Grace Mueller earning her first career start.
• Wisconsin opens the season 6-0 for the first time since 2006-07.
• Junior Abby Laszewski just missed her first career double-double with 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, just one off her career best of 10 boards.
• The Badgers outrebounded their sixth opponent of the season, finishing with a 47-35 advantage over Tennessee State.

  

Straight from the court

 
Head coach Jonathan Tsipis
On the mental toughness
"As you continue to grow, you got to make sure you don't give the other team confidence though. We were up 31-19 at the half. All of a sudden we took the belief in a team away. We gave Tennessee State a lot of confidence in the game tonight. We made just enough plays to win tonight. Hats off to our kids. Alex Luehring made a giant three, the shot Kelly Karlis got against a zone in the middle of the lane was huge, and probably as big a basket as there was, was Marsha Howard off a missed free throw to get it to a three point game. We have to execute better at the end, Alex and Kendra have not missed a free throw this season, we got to make sure to get the ball on their hands, and be able to capitalize."
 

Next up

The Badgers play game three in the Challenge in Music City round robin tournament on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. taking on Arkansas.