MADISON, Wis. — The Badgers faced off against Western Illinois Thursday, Nov. 9 and won by a final score of 74-52. 

The Badgers put on a stellar performance against the Leathernecks in their second game of the season Thursday night. Natalie Leuzinger and Ronnie Porter paved the way for Wisconsin, each notching several career highs. Leuzinger set career-highs in points with 13 (4-10 FG, 3-9 3FG, 2-4 FT), field goals made, three-pointers made, and then tied her career-high in steals with two. Porter notched her first-ever double-double, with a career-high in points with 12 (5-11 FG, 1-6 3FG, 1-4 FT), field goals made, rebounds and steals. On a night when Serah Williams was recovering from an injury sustained against Milwaukee Tuesday, Leuzinger and Porter stepped up to the plate and contributed 25 of the team's points. 

Leuzinger ignited the offense early with a three-pointer just three minutes into the game, and the Badgers really controlled the tempo in the second ten minutes of play. As they hastened the pace, more shots began to fall and pushed the Badgers up 34-22 at half.

The Badgers carried that momentum into the third quarter, tallying 21 points, their highest scoring period of the night. Ana Guillen added her first points as a Badger during these 10 minutes with two free throws, and Sania Copeland pitched in eight points in this quarter alone. Freshmen Leena Patibandla, Imbie Jones, and Tessa Grady saw action late in the fourth. Grady stepped in and confidently made back-to-back-to-back threes, in just three minutes of play. She added two rebounds and one block and added a real spark to close out the game.

Wisconsin shot 42.4% (25-59) from the field range, including 34.5% (10-29) from 3-point range. The Badgers shot 51.9% (14-27) from the free-throw line. The team finished with 42 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 steals and 3 blocks.

Western Illinois went 28.3% (15-53) from field-goal range, including 19.0% (4-21)  from behind the arc. The Leatherbacks were 58.1% (18-31) from the free-throw line. Raegan McCowan led the team with 13 points (5-16 FG, 0-1 3FG, 3-6 FT) and pitched in eight rebounds and one steal.

Notes to know

• Natalie Leuzinger set career-highs in points with 13 (4-10 FG, 3-9 3FG, 2-4 FT), field goals made, three-pointers made, and also tied her career-high in steals with two. 

• Ronnie Porter notched her first-ever double-double, with a career-high in points with 12 (5-11 FG, 1-6 3FG, 1-4 FT), field goals made, rebounds (13) and steals (five).

• Freshman Tessa Grady scored her first-career points and accumulated three three-pointers, two rebounds and one block in the final three minutes of play. 

Up next

Wisconsin will play South Dakota State in its third game of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Tip off is 6:30 p.m. from the Kohl Center, streamed live on B1G+.