MADISON, Wis. — The Golden Grizzlies fell 79-68 to Wisconsin at the Kohl Center on Wednesday night, despite Oakland's 27-point surge in the fourth quarter.

The game began with Oakland taking an early lead as Filippa Goula drained a three-pointer at 9:21, assisted by Makenzie Luehring. Angie Smith added momentum with a successful layup at 8:45, briefly putting Oakland ahead. However, the Badgers responded with a series of  shots, including a three-pointer by Destiny Howell at 7:21, which shifted the lead back to the home team.

Despite turnovers, Oakland showed resilience with Smith and Luehring contributing key steals, and Luehring executed a fast-break layup at 3:17 to close the gap. Cali Denson further reduced the deficit to one point with two successful free throws at 2:19. The quarter concluded with Wisconsin holding a narrow lead, 20-14.

In the second quarter, Oakland's Luehring made a significant impact with a series of successful plays, including a layup at the 9:08 mark and a crucial three-pointer with 2:34 remaining, narrowing the gap against the Badgers. Despite their efforts, Oakland faced challenges mid-quarter as the Badgers extended their lead with timely baskets, including a three-point shot by Howell at 3:21. The quarter concluded with Wisconsin leading 39-30, as each team scored 19 and 16 points in the period, respectively.

Oakland faced a challenging third quarter, starting with a bright moment when Luehring knocked down a three-pointer at 8:41, assisted by Layla Gold. Despite this effort, Oakland struggled to maintain momentum, facing several turnovers and missed opportunities. Sereniti Roberts-Adams provided a brief spark with a tip-in at 5:32, but the team couldn't close the gap significantly. The quarter ended with Oakland scoring 11 points against the Badgers' 20, leading to a score of 59-41 in favor of Wisconsin.

Oakland made a significant push in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a series of three-pointers from Denson. Her shooting kept the team competitive, including a crucial three-pointer at 2:26 that narrowed the deficit. Despite Oakland's offensive efforts and Smith's fast-break layup with just 31 seconds remaining, the Badgers maintained their lead. The game concluded with a final score of 79-68 in favor of Wisconsin. Oakland's bench contributed 15 points, underscoring their depth in the final quarter.

Luehring posted 15 points, including two three-pointers, and added six rebounds and two steals. Denson contributed a team-high 17 points, sinking five three-pointers while converting all her free throw attempts. Goula dished out a game-high eight assists and recorded six rebounds and two steals. Smith tallied 14 points and led the defensive effort with five steals.

In their next game, Oakland will host Miami University (OH) on Monday, Nov. 10. The matchup will tip off at 6:30 p.m. at the OU Credit Union O'rena in Rochester, Michigan.