The Wisconsin Badgers NCAA women's basketball team earned their first win of the Cancun Challenge with a strong second half performance against Providence. The Badgers improved to 6-2 on the season after the victory with their 66-57 victory. Their previous losses are a 79-57 loss in the early season and a heartbreaking 73-67 loss to San Diego State to kick off their trip to Mexico. 

The Friars fall to 3-5 on the season, and 0-2 in Cancun. They fell to VCU in a similar heartbreaking fashion, losing 57-51. They have five close losses, with a 77-69 OT loss to Columbia, a 67-60 loss to Boston College, and a 65-61 loss to Dayton. The Friars have struggled to win these close matchups all season so far, something they hope to clean up before the season really gets started.  

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Northern Kentucky transfer Carter McKay came up huge for the Badgers, putting up 19 points and 7 rebounds. She has been huge for the Badgers at time, though inconsistent, and a her finding her groove and settling in would really be huge for this young Wisconsin team. Here's a full recap of the game below. 

Wisconsin Pulls Away After A Slow Start For A 66-57 Win

In a pretty well balanced game for the Badgers, four of their five starters put up 10+ points. For a team that struggled with balance and often found themselves relying on a singular player a season ago, the start to this season should be a step in the right direction. Ronnie Porter put up 10 points, Tess Myers had 11, and Natalie Leuzinger had 16 to go along with McKay's 19. 

For the Friars, Grace Efosa was their star with 21 points. Olivia Olsen was the only other Providence player to reach double digits, putting up 10 points. Providence actually played solid defense, putting up 5 steals and 6 blocks. The difference in this game was the efficiency from the free throw line and shooting threes. Providence only made 37.5% of free throws and 15.4% of their threes. 

Providence led 17-11 at the end of the firs quarter. The teams traded points till 11-11 when Providence then hit their stride. Sarah Bandoma kicked off the run with a layup. From there Grace Efosa had back to back jumpers and Providence had a 6 point lead after the first. The Friars continued their run at the start of the second as they doubled up on the Badgers. From there Carter McKay truly took over with four straight jumpers that made it a three point game. Marta Morales Romero ended the Badger run. Tess Myers downed a three pointer shortly before halftime that made it a one point Friar lead at the half. 

Four minutes into the third, Wisconsin took their first lead since the point trading at the beginning of the first. A Carter McKay layup made it 32-30 game. Olivia Olsen tied it before Wisconsin rattled off 8 straight points including  two threes by Halle Douglass and Natalie Leuzinger. The Badgers led 40-32 and didn't look back, leading by four at the end of the third. Grace Efosa's four points at the end that kept the game close. Kylee Sheppard made it a 2 point game at 46-44 two minutes into the fourth before Natalie Leuzinger hit another three to make it 49-44. It continued on, every time Providence pulled within two, Wisconsin would promptly respond and extend the lead. A Wisconsin run made it a ten point lead and Wisconsin held on to it, walking away with a 66-57 victory. 

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Thursday, November 28

• 11:00 a.m. ET - 2024 Providence vs VCU - Women's
• 1:30 p.m. ET - 2024 San Diego State vs Wisconsin - Women's
• 4:00 p.m. ET - 2024 Vermont vs Idaho State - Women's
• 6:30 p.m. ET - 2024 Rhode Island vs Iowa - Women's
• 9:00 p.m. ET - 2024 BYU vs Rice - Women's

Friday, November 29

• 11:00 a.m. ET - 2024 Wisconsin vs Providence - Women's
• 1:30 p.m. ET - 2024 VCU vs San Diego State - Women's
• 4:00 p.m. ET - 2024 Idaho State vs Rhode Island - Women's
• 6:30 p.m. ET - 2024 Vermont vs Rice - Women's
• 9:00 p.m. ET - 2024 Iowa vs BYU - Women's

Saturday, November 30

• 11:00 a.m. ET - 2024 San Diego State vs Providence - Women's
• 1:30 p.m. ET - 2024 Wisconsin vs VCU - Women's

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NCAA Women's Basketball Rankings For Week 4

1. UCLA (5-0)
2. UConn (4-0)
3. Notre Dame (5-0)
4. South Carolina (5-1)
5. Texas (4-0)
6. USC (4-1)
7. LSU (6-0)
8. Oklahoma (5-0)
9. Kansas State (5-0)
10. Maryland (6-0)
11. Ohio State (5-0)
12. West Virginia (6-0)
13. Duke (5-1)
14. Kentucky (5-0)
15. Iowa State (5-1)
16. North Carolina (5-1)
17. TCU (6-0)
18. Ole Miss (3-1)
19. Illinois (5-0)
20. North Carolina State (3-2)
21. Oregon (6-0)
22. Iowa (6-0)
23. Alabama (6-0)
24. Louisville (4-2)
25. Nebraska (5-1)

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