MADISON – The Wisconsin women’s basketball team faced a tough challenge on Sunday, January 26, as they traveled to Minnesota for a matchup at Williams Arena. Unfortunately, the Badgers struggled to maintain their momentum and suffered an 88-53 defeat. This loss marked Wisconsin’s second setback in road games this season, dropping their overall record to 13-8 and 5-5 in the Big Ten.

Senior guard Destiny Howell led the Badgers with 16 points, though she shot just 4-of-16 from the field. Junior guard Kyrah Daniels contributed 13 points, with 11 of those coming in the first half. Senior guard Ronnie Porter played a key role, recording nine points, three assists, and zero turnovers in 34 minutes on the court.

On the other side, the Gophers showcased strong performances from several players. Sophomore guard Tori McKinney was a standout, scoring 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. Junior guard Grace Grocholski, a graduate of Kettle Moraine High School, added 18 points, hitting six of her seven shots and four of five three-point attempts. Senior guard Amaya Battle also chipped in with 18 points, helping Minnesota improve to 14-6 overall and 5-5 in the conference.

Three Takeaways from the Game

Slow Start Spoils Chances Again

The Badgers once again found themselves struggling early in the game, a pattern that has repeated in previous road contests against Michigan and Maryland. In the first quarter, Wisconsin shot a dismal 26.7% (4-of-15) and fell behind by 10 points after 4.5 minutes. Although they managed to cut the deficit to five points, Minnesota extended its lead to 12 by the end of the first quarter. From that point on, Wisconsin never came within single digits of the Gophers.

Firepower Shows Briefly in the Second Half

Despite the loss, there were moments of hope for the Badgers. In the second half, they put together a strong 7-minute stretch where they scored 22 points and narrowed the gap to 56-46 with 3 minutes and 2 seconds left in the quarter. During this time, UW hit seven of its first nine shots and went 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Destiny Howell was instrumental, scoring 13 points in a span of 3 minutes and 12 seconds. This performance highlighted the potential of Wisconsin’s offense when it is clicking.

Badgers Can’t Help Themselves With Easy Buckets

Regardless of the outcome, the Badgers have consistently relied on difficult scoring opportunities. In the first nine Big Ten games, they averaged 7.7 fast break points and 27.7 points in the paint. However, during this game, they managed only two fast break points and 18 points in the paint. Minnesota, on the other hand, dominated in these areas with 55 points combined. This lack of production in key areas makes it challenging for Wisconsin to succeed, especially when their shots are not falling.

Wisconsin’s overall shooting percentage of 34.6% was its third-lowest of the season and its second-lowest against a Big Ten opponent.