MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Wisconsin women's basketball team (13-16, 6-13 B1G) fell to Penn State (19-11, 10-9 B1G), 80-56, in round two of the 2024 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 7 inside the Target Center.
Ronnie Porter got out to a hot start for the Badgers, notching nine points in quarter one, including one three-pointer and four total field goals. The Minnesota native was accompanied in scoring by Schramek who sunk a three and Jimenez who scored a driving layup. Wisconsin dropped 15 first-quarter points but was overtaken by a strong Penn State offense that shot nearly 50% early on. The Nittany Lions led after quarter one, 27-15.
The Badgers came out in the second quarter with back-to-back-to-back threes, two from Sania Copeland and one from Natalie Leuzinger. Wisconsin kept Penn State's offense more in check throughout these 10 minutes, giving up 18 points and limiting the team to just one three-pointer. With a much stronger defensive effort, Wisconsin got within single digits, trailing 35-27 heading into the half.
Serah Williams started to come alive in the second half, scoring eight points and earning a double-double, her 16th straight. This marks the most consecutive double-doubles in Big Ten history, surpassing Megan Gustafson's record of 15 set back in the 2018-19 season. Porter added another six, bringing her point total to a team-high 15 on the night and Copeland joined her and Williams in double-digit territory. The Badgers put up a good fight but finished exited the tournament with a 80-56 loss.
Wisconsin shot 62.5% (20-57) from the field and 23.1% (6-26) from 3-point range. The Badgers shot 62.5% (10-16) from the free-throw line. Wisconsin led
Penn State shot 49.2% (32-65) from field-goal range, including 27.3 (6-22) from behind the arc. The Nittany Lions were 90.9% (10-11) from the charity stripe. The team was led in scoring by Kylie Lavelle who notched 14 points (6-7 FG, 2-2 3FG) and added three rebounds.
Notes to know
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Serah Williams recorded her 16th-straight double-double, notching 10 points and 10 rebounds. She surpassed Megan Gustafson's Big Ten record of 15 consecutive double-doubles set in the 2018-19 season.
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Ronnie Porter contributed a team-high 15 points and shot 50.0% from the field.
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Wisconsin committed 13 turnovers, the second-fewest they've had this season.