MADISON, Wis. — Celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day, the Wisconsin's women's basketball team avenged an early-season loss to Illinois, downing the Fighting Illini, 70-62, in the Kohl Center Sunday afternoon.

In an all-around team win, Wisconsin (6-16, 3-9 B1G) had four players score in double figures for just the second game this season. Sophomore Brooke Schramek scored a game-high 17 points, just one point short of her career best. Katie Nelson added 14 points while Julie Pospisilova chipped in 13 points. Sophomore Halle Douglass tied her career high with 12 points while junior Tara Stauffacher tied her career best with nine points, shooting 4-5 from the field.

As a team, Wisconsin shot 47.2% (25-53), including 39.1% (9-23) fom 3-point range. Illinois (6-12, 1-6) shot 39% (23-59) from the field, including 23.5% (4-17) from behind the arc. The Illini edged the Badgers from the free-throw line, shooting 80% (12-15) while Wisconsin hit 64.7% (11-17).

Wisconsin dished off a season-high 21 assists on 25 made field goals with Pospisilova recording a career-best nine helpers. Nelson added six dimes.

The Badgers turned the ball over just 13 times while the Illini had 14 turnovers and 14 assists. UW outscored Illinois 18-11 off turnovers and 18-11 on fast breaks.

Pospisilova just missed a triple-double, adding nine rebounds, which tied her career best. Wisconsin pulled down 31 boards while Illinois had 37 rebounds. Douglass added eight rebounds, just one short of her career high.

Wisconsin went on a tear late in the first period. Trailing 12-8 with 3:37 on the clock, the Badgers had a 10-0 run, behind five points from Pospisilova, to lead 18-12 at the end of one quarter.

The Badgers extended their lead to 22-12 at 8:49 in the second quarter before Illinois retaliated with a 10-0 run of their own to tie the score at 22 with 5:12 to go in the half. Wisconsin closed the half on a 13-2 run in the final five minutes of the second quarter, sending them into the locker room with a 35-24 lead.

After a near-even third period, UW led 55-42 with 8:17 to play but Illinois cut the lead to just five (57-52) with 2:46 remaining. Five straight points from Douglass gave the Badgers a 62-52 lead with 1:47 on the clock. The Fighting Illini made it a seven-point game (64-57) with 1:03 to play but Wisconsin sealed the win from the free-throw line, netting 6-8 in the final 51 seconds.

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Marisa Moseley
"I think it was the complete team effort. We got contributions from everybody and to me that was huge. We've been preaching share the ball and make extra passes, and I felt like we started to see that more and more today. The crowd was awesome so for us to be able to make a statement about where we're headed and to get new eyes and young eyes on our program and have people say, 'I want to go to a Badger game. I want to be in the building.' Collectively it was just a win all around.

"We are not as good of a team when Brooke is not on the floor. She is aggressive and plays hard. She wants to do the right thing. She was huge tonight on both ends. Her versatility is just a lot to work with. She can knock in threes, she is able to score in the paint, she can pass the ball a little bit, so it was great to see her come out and be able to do a little bit of all of that. I'm proud of her and I hope to see this trend keep going.

"We've talked about starts and we've also talked about finishes. The way we start practice is the way we start games and the way we end practice is the way we end games. We have really focused and I think it takes maturity. I think we have matured over the season to understand. I called a timeout with five minutes left, a nine-point game at that point, and I told them we are not going to give this game away. We are going to win this game. So for them to come out and respond and handle the pressure and execute, that shows a ton of growth from the beginning of the season to now."

Notes to Know

• Sophomore Halle Douglass tied her career high with 12 points, making a career-high five field goals. The 6-foot-1 forward scored in double figures for the fourth game this season and pulled down eight rebounds, just one off her career best.
• Grad student Katie Nelson tied her season high, making six free throws.
• Junior Julie Pospisilova just missed a triple double with 13 points, a career-high nine assists and tying her career high with nine rebounds.
• Sophomore Brooke Schramek scored 17 points, just one off her career high, tying her career best with six made field goals. The 6-foot one forward shot 6-7 (85.7%) from the field, including 1-1 from 3-point range.
• Junior Tara Stauffacher tied her career high with nine points, shooting 4-5 (80%) from the field, tying her career high with four made field goals.
• The Badgers surpassed their 2021-22 overall and Big Ten wins, claiming their sixth overall win and third conference victory.
• Wisconsin scored 70 points, the second-most points in a game this season.
• The Badgers dished off a season-high 21 assists while turning the ball over 13 times for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6.
• UW improves to 3-3 on Sundays in Big Ten play.
• Wisconsin drew a season-high crowd of 6,007, the most fans since Jan. 19, 2020.

Up next

Wisconsin travels to No. 17 Maryland Wednesday night to face off with the Terrapins. Opening tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on BTN+.