CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Outscoring the Illini 22-15 in the third quarter, the Wisconsin women's basketball team picked up their second Big Ten Conference win of the season Sunday afternoon, defeating Illinois 70-61, at State Farm Center. 

The game was full of big scoring runs and would come down to which team had the momentum last. The Badgers (9-14 overall, 2-8 Big Ten) overcame foul trouble and found incredible offensive firepower through sophomore Suzanne Gilreath. 

Gilreath's three third-quarter 3-pointers would keep the Badgers out of the Fighting Illini's reach and secured the UW victory on the road.

The Badgers struggled from the field against the Fighting Illini (9-14) early, shooting 27.3 percent in the opening quarter. The Illini also struggled to hit their shot and would hold just a single-point lead, 14-13 heading into the second quarter. 

Illinois embarked on a 10-3 run to start the second quarter putting the Badgers down 24-16 with 6:39 remaining in the first half. Wisconsin would not let the deficit faze them, and rallied back with a 11-3 run of its own that put UW down just one point, 28-27 at half.

Freshman phenom Niya Beverley was a major factor of the early second half for the Badgers. After hitting the floor early in the first quarter with an apparent injury, the freshman would return late in the first half and make her presence known in the third quarter. Beverley led a 7-0 run with 8:32 in the third quarter to push the Badgers forward 36-33 with 6:02 remaining in the quarter. Wisconsin outscored Illinois 22-15 in the third quarter.

Gilreath hit three of her seven 3-pointers in the third and gave the Badgers a six-point, 49-43 lead going into the final quarter. 

Wisconsin outscored Illinois 21-18 in the fourth quarter to hold one for the Badgers' second victory in Big Ten play.

Wisconsin shot 40.4 percent (23-57) from the field and out rebounded Illinois, 44-32. Senior Cayla McMorris led UW with eight rebounds.

Gilreath provided a career high 27 points in the victory, shooting 7-for-12 from behind the 3-point line. Sophomore Courtney Fredrickson added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Turning Point

Wisconsin's Suzanne Gilreath's three 3-pointers in the third allowed the Badgers to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.  With stars Cayla McMorris and Marsha Howard on the bench due to foul trouble, Wisconsin found its offense through Gilreath. Her efforts gave the Badgers a six-point, 49-43 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

Notes to Know:

• The Badgers notched their first Big Ten road victory since March 1, 2015, a 62-56 win at Penn State.
• Wisconsin scored a Big Ten season-high 70 points and also pulled down a Big Ten-season high 44 rebounds. 
• Sophomore Suzanne Gilreath led all scorers with a career-high 27 points, making seven 3-pointers. Her treys tie for second on the UW single-game record list.  
• UW equaled last season's win total (9) with today's win.
   

Straight from the Court

Head coach Jonathan Tsipis

On Suzanne Gilreath
"Just the consistency that she provided. She came in and was effective in the first half with 11 points and had the two biggest plays for us in the second half. She understands her role and doesn't allow mistakes to stop her from her being ready for her next opportunity to shoot the basketball."

"Defensively our guards front and the back line were just so much more active and sometimes you just heave to weather the storm and change the game plan."

Up Next

The Badgers head home for a Wednesday matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Kohl Center in a 7 p.m.