EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Grace Sullivan scored 19 points to lead Northwestern to a 66-61 comeback victory over Wisconsin in a Big Ten women’s basketball game Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats, who improved to 8-10, trailed 32-30 at halftime but used a 21-point third quarter to seize control. Sullivan, a 6-foot-4 forward from Antioch, Illinois, was pivotal in the surge. Caroline Lau added 15 points and nine assists for Northwestern. The Badgers, who fell to 11-7, were led by Destiny Howell with 13 points and Ronnie Porter with 10. Wisconsin led by as many as 11 points in the first half but could not sustain its offense after halftime, scoring only 12 points in the third quarter. An announced crowd of 1,457 watched the Wildcats secure the conference win.

EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — In a critical swing game for two teams jockeying for position in the middle of the Big Ten standings, the Northwestern Wildcats used a dominant third-quarter surge to overcome a halftime deficit and held off a late rally to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers 66-61 in women’s basketball action Thursday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,457, saw Northwestern improve to 8-10 overall, while Wisconsin fell to 11-7. The contest was a tale of two halves, with the Wildcats’ ability to control the paint and capitalize on Wisconsin’s offensive dry spells proving decisive. Northwestern was propelled by a standout performance from junior forward Grace Sullivan of Antioch, Illinois. The 6-foot-4 post player dominated inside, scoring a game-high 19 points and anchoring a defensive effort that stifled the Badgers after halftime. She was complemented by the dynamic backcourt duo of Caroline Lau and Casey Harter. Lau, a sophomore from Westport, Connecticut, orchestrated the Wildcat offense with 15 points and nine assists, narrowly missing a double-double. Harter, a senior from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, provided steady all-around play with 10 points, four assists and crucial defensive pressure in 39 minutes of action. Wisconsin was led by the backcourt pairing of Ronnie Porter and Breauna Ware. Porter, the 5-foot-4 sparkplug from Saint Paul, Minnesota, finished with 10 points and five assists. Ware, a guard from Queens, New York, added 12 points. Destiny Howell, also from Queens, led the Badgers in scoring with 13 points. The first half was a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair. Wisconsin established an early rhythm, leading 15-14 after the first quarter and extending that lead to 32-30 at the intermission. The Badgers’ defense forced several Northwestern turnovers, and timely three-point shooting from Howell and Porter kept the Wildcats at bay. The most important part of the game unfolded decisively in the third quarter. Northwestern emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, particularly in the interior where Sullivan’s presence altered shots and secured rebounds. The Wildcats opened the period on a 15-4 run, flipping an eight-point deficit into a three-point lead. Wisconsin’s offense, which had flowed in the first half, stagnated against the heightened pressure, managing only 12 points in the quarter on a series of contested shots and turnovers. Northwestern’s 21-point third quarter was fueled by efficient offense. Lau and Harter connected on key three-pointers, while Sullivan and Tayla Thomas (13 points) consistently finished at the rim. The Wildcats’ ball movement, resulting in six assists in the quarter, dissected a previously sturdy Wisconsin defense. By the start of the fourth quarter, Northwestern had built a 51-44 advantage, a margin that represented the largest lead for either team to that point. Wisconsin refused to capitulate in the final period. The Badgers chipped away at the lead, with a Kyrah Daniels three-pointer cutting the Northwestern advantage to 61-59 with just over four minutes remaining. Each time Wisconsin threatened, however, Northwestern had an answer. Following Daniels’ three, Sullivan responded with a tough turnaround jumper in the lane. After a Ronnie Porter layup made it 63-61 with under three minutes to play, the Wildcats’ defense locked down. Wisconsin had multiple possessions in the final two minutes to tie or take the lead but came up empty on a series of rushed shots. The clinching sequence came in the final 30 seconds. With Northwestern leading 64-61, Caroline Lau was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with 4.6 seconds remaining to seal the five-point victory. The outcome defied the pregame projections from National Statistical’s ELO system, which had given Wisconsin a 65.8 percent probability to win. Instead, Northwestern secured a valuable conference victory, showcasing the interior dominance of Sullivan and the late-game composure of Lau. For Wisconsin, the loss highlighted recurring issues with sustaining offensive execution against physical defensive teams, a theme in several of their conference setbacks this season. Both teams continue Big Ten play on Sunday. Northwestern travels to face Illinois, while Wisconsin returns home to host Oregon.

Preview: Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats EVANSTON, Ill. (Interstat) — The Wisconsin Badgers look to steady themselves in Big Ten play when they visit the Northwestern Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Thursday night. Wisconsin (11-6) enters having dropped two straight, including an 86-60 road loss to Michigan on Sunday. The Badgers have shown resilience this season, however, with narrow victories over Penn State and Rutgers to open conference play. Northwestern (7-10) snapped a seven-game skid with a dominant 73-54 home win over Rutgers last time out. The Wildcats will seek to build momentum and improve their conference standing. A key matchup will feature Wisconsin’s leading scorer, Destiny Howell, against Northwestern’s dynamic floor general, Caroline Lau. Howell has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 14.2 points over her last five games, including a 17-point effort in the win over Penn State. Lau is coming off a historic triple-double performance against Rutgers, where she dished out 16 assists to go with 12 points and eight rebounds. Her playmaking will be central to Northwestern’s attack, though she has struggled with scoring consistency in recent weeks. Wisconsin holds a clear advantage in the standings, but has faced defensive struggles, allowing an average of 82.3 points in its three conference losses. Containing Lau and limiting her ability to create for teammates like Casey Harter, who scored 21 against Rutgers, will be a priority. Northwestern’s victory over Rutgers showcased its potential, particularly with Tayla Thomas controlling the glass with 16 rebounds. The Wildcats will need a similar defensive effort to counter a Wisconsin team seeking to avoid a third consecutive loss. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST Thursday in Evanston. Up Next: Wisconsin hosts Oregon on Sunday. Northwestern travels to face Illinois on Sunday.