MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — The Wisconsin women's basketball team (13-12, 6-9 B1G) defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-11, 5-10 B1G) 67-56 on Tuesday, Feb. 20 inside Williams Arena. The Badgers never once trailed the Golden Gophers and took their fourth-consecutive win over the division rivals. 

Williams got the Badgers' scoring underway with the first bucket of the game which was followed by a Sania Copeland layup. Both teams got off to a slow start, with the score tied at 4-all with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter. D'Yanis Jimenez struck next for the Badgers, scoring two straight baskets and giving the Badgers the lead. Sania Copeland drained a long-range three on the following drive to assert the Badger's offensive dominance this period. The final points of quarter-one came from Williams draining her eighth-career three-pointer and the badgers led 15-12 heading into the next 10 minutes of play.

Entering quarter two, it took roughly three minutes for the Badgers to get on the board, but their brief offensive rut was broken by Ronnie Porter who drained a floater over the Minnesota defense. Wisconsin eventually found its rhythm, going on a 7-0 run late in the half that was spearheaded by Copeland and Natalie Leuzinger, both of whom drained threes. The final five minutes of the quarter was an all-out effort on both ends of the court and the Badgers led by as many as 15 points. Wisconsin shot 55.0% in the first half, with Williams contributing 12 points and Copeland adding nine, and UW led UM 39-24 heading into the locker room.

Williams recorded the Badgers' first five points of the second half, proving once again that she is one of the conference's best post players. She was tenacious down below on the offensive end and dropped 11 of Wisconsin's 13 points in the third quarter. The Badgers topped the Gophers by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, and led, 52-43, with 10 minutes remaining.

Wisconsin's offense began to dip heading into the final stretch and Minnesota's Amaya Battle took charge by leading the Gophers on a 6-0 run. Just when Minnesota was within two possessions of Wisconsin, battled back and quelled its rivals. Williams added another seven points to get her point total to 30 on the night and Wisconsin took the border battle by a final score of 67-56.

Wisconsin shot 41.5% (22-53) from the field range, and 26.3% (5-19) from 3-point range. The Badgers shot 69.2% (18-26) from the free-throw line. Wisconsin led in rebounds 39 to 32. 

Minnesota shot 40.8% (20-49) from field-goal range, including 30.8% (4-13) from behind the arc. The Golden Gophers were 63.2% (12-19) from the charity stripe. Amaya Battle led the Gophers in scoring with 16 points (7-17 FG, 2-3 FT).

Notes to know

• Wisconsin claimed its fourth-straight win over Minnesota and swept the Border Battle for the second-consecutive season. 
• Serah Williams recorded her 12th-straight double-double, notching 30 points and 15 rebounds.
• The Badgers never once trailed the Golden Gophers, posting a 19-point lead with 1:54 left in the third quarter.
• Williams, Copeland, and Jimenez all scored in double digits against Minnesota.

Up next

Wisconsin returns home to play Purdue in Madison on Sunday, Feb. 25. Tip off is set for 3 p.m. and the game can be streamed on Big Ten Network or listened to on 1070 WTSO-AM.