CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A low-scoring second half hindered the Wisconsin women's basketball team as it fell at Illinois, 65-47, on Sunday afternoon.

After trailing 34-32 at the half, the Badgers (3-11, 0-4 B1G) were outscored 31-15 in the second half.

"The wheels fell off," said head coach Marisa Mosely of her team's second-half play. "It looks to me like we got fatigued. Our shots didn't go in and we start taking some quick shots, some ill-advised shots. We put (Illinois) on the free-throw line and we really lost momentum."

Wisconsin was playing without starter Sydney Hilliard, who missed the game with a lower leg injury. Due to the injury, Moseley had only nine players available.

One of the players to stepped up due to the limited bench was sophomore Natalie Leuzinger. The Monroe, Wisconsin, guard, who had played in only three games this season prior to today, played a season-high 11 minutes, scoring a career-high three points while dishing off a career-best one assist.

"She really works hard every single day at practice," said Mosely on Leuzinger. "She is just ready for when her number is called. She is the quintessential teammate. She understands that it might not come often but when it comes, she is ready. I'm really proud of her."

After shooting 40.6% (13-32) in the first half, Wisconsin shot just 23.1% (6-26) in the second half while Illinois (6-8, 1-2) upped its shooting from 37.5% (12-32) in the first half to 42.9% (12-28) in the second stanza.

For the game, the Illini shot 40% (24-60) while Wisconsin connected on a season-low 32.8% (19-58).

Free throws also made a difference in the game as Illinois went to the line 16 times, making 10 for 62.5% while UW was just 2-4 (50%) from the charity stripe.
Illinois had three players score in double figures behind a game-high 21 points from Aaliyah Nye. Wisconsin was led by Julie Pospisilova with 14 points while Katie Nelson added 12 points. Nelson also dished off a game-high six assists.

UW was also outrebounded 25-13 in the second half and finished the game with 15 fewer rebounds (45-30). The Illini pulled down 18 offensive rebounds leading to 14 second-chance points.  Sophomore Halle Douglass led Wisconsin with seven boards.

Illinois jumped out to an 8-0 lead just over three minutes into the first quarter and upped its lead to 12 (22-10) with a minute to play in the period.

The Badgers outscored Illinois 19-11 in the second quarter, including a 12-2 run that tied the score at 30 with 3:09 remaining in the period. Pospisilova scored eight points in the quarter, including the game-tying bucket, to lead UW. A last-second Illini bucket put the home team up 34-32 at the half.

Wisconsin trailed by one (38-37) with 7:18 on the clock in the third period before a 9-0 run put Illinois up 47-37 with 4:15 remaining. Two Douglass free throws would make it a 47-39 game with four minutes to play but that was as close as UW would get the rest of the game.

UW dished off 12 assists while turning the ball over 15 times. Illinois had six steals on defense while giving the ball up 13 times.

Wisconsin returns home to host Minnesota on Wednesday from the Kohl Center. Tip time is 6:30 p.m. streamed live on B1G+.