Starting Five: No. 3 Wisconsin set to host Harvard in WBIT quarterfinal round

MADISON, Wis.– Wisconsin (#3 seed) advances to the quarterfinal round of the WBIT. They will host fourth-seeded Harvard at the Kohl Center on Thursday, March 26. The game will air on ESPN+ with tip time set for 6:30 p.m. (CT).

Here are five things to know before the Badgers face the Crimson:

1. WISCONSIN IN THE POSTSEASON:
The team is making its first appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) in 2025-26. The Badgers have made 16 all-time postseason tournament appearances, including 7 in the NCAA Tournament, 7 in the WNIT, and one in each the WBIT and AIAW Tournament. Wisconsin captured the 2000 WNIT Championship under head coach Jane Albright and finished WNIT runner-up in 2007 under Lisa Stone.

2. TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
This is Wisconsin's first appearance in the WBIT. UW has advanced to the round of eight, posting a 2-0 record all-time.

The Badgers are the only Big Ten team to earn a bid to the tournament this year. Since the tournament's inaugural run in 2024, B1G have claimed the title each year (Illinois - 2024, Minnesota - 2025).

If UW wins the title, the team will have its first winning record since the 2010-11 season (17-15).

3. SCOUTING HARVARD:
This will be the second meeting between the two teams. Wisconsin last faced Harvard in the 2006 season in the Kohl Center where they triumphed 86-66. The Crimson enter the match up 20-11 overall and a 10-14 mark in conference play. As a team they are averaging 65.5 points per game and are pulling down 37.7 rebounds per game.

Leading the Crimson offense is Karlee White, who averages 14.9 points per game, with Abigail Wright and Saniyah Glenn-Bello also among the top scorers in the lineup. Gabby Anderson and Olivia Jones pace Harvard on the boards, each pulling down around 6.4 rebounds per game. The team is coached by Carrie Moore, who is in her fourth season at Harvard.

4. LAST TIME OUT:
Wisconsin knocked off No. 2 seed Miami (FL), 72-65. The Badgers held the Hurricanes to just 15 first-half points, lowest by an opponent this season, and shot a season-high 56.5% (13-23) from 3-point range to secure the win.

Destiny Howell led the way with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including six triples. Kyrah Daniels added her first-career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds and Gift Uchenna chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds to anchor Wisconsin's presence inside.

Wisconsin ended shooting 44.3% (27-61) from the field, 56.5% (13-23) from beyond the arc and 83.3% (5-6) from the line. Miami finished 32.4% (23-71) from the field, 42.3% (11-26) from three and 61.5% (8-13) from the line.

5. UP NEXT:
If Wisconsin advances, the team will play either fourth-seeded California or fourth-seeded Columbia on Monday, March 30 in Wichita Kansas at the Charles Koch Arena. The game can be streamed on ESPNU with tip time TBD.