MADISON, Wis. - The Golden Grizzlies fell to Wisconsin 89-56 on Thursday. After a tightly contested first half, the Badgers pulled away, largely helped by a 46 to 24 advantage on the boards.
Oakland started the game with an early lead.
Makenzie Luehring and
Angie Smith helped the Golden Grizzlies move in front as Smith scored on a layup and a jumper before Luehring's 3-pointer, assisted by
Cece Bonner, that gave the Golden Grizzlies a 13-12 lead at 4:54. More scores by Smith and Bonner helped Oakland jump out to a 17-14 lead, but Wisconsin closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 21-17 lead after the opening ten minutes.
Luehring led all scorers with nine points in the frame, scoring nine of Oakland's first 13 points of the game. The teams shot an identical 8-for-16 from the field, but Wisconsin added a pair of triples to give them the upper hand.
Early in the second quarter, Luehring answered a Wisconsin 3-pointer with one of her own off
Ella Riggs' assist to make it 24-20, and Riggs later connected from deep off a Luehring assist to keep the Golden Grizzlies at 29-23 with 7:17 left.
Wisconsin followed with inside and perimeter scoring while the Golden Grizzlies offense went cold, going nearly three minutes without a bucket in the middle of the quarter.
A free throw from
Layla Gold would break Oakland's scoring drought, but Wisconsin developed a double-digit cushion that held at 41-31 at halftime.
The Golden Grizzlies hit three of four from beyond the arc in the second quarter, but six turnovers and Wisconsin's four offensive rebounds helped the home team take the quarter.
The Badgers leaned on the offensive glass, grabbing seven offensive rebounds to Oakland's one, scoring six second chance points, as they established the lead at half.
Luehring still led all scorers as she made her efforts to keep Oakland within striking distance, tallying 16 points (6-for-9 FG).
Morell kicked off the third quarter with a layup off a Smith assist, and Smith added a layup as the Golden Grizzlies answered early Wisconsin baskets.
Bonner snagged a steal and later blocked a shot before Morell secured the defensive rebound and Luehring hit a transition 3-pointer at 6:00, with Gold following with a 3-pointer off an assist from Luehring to make it 51-41.
The Golden Grizzlies scored their final five points of the quarter at the free-throw line, going 5-for-8 from the charity stripe in the quarter to stay afloat, but still trailed 59-46 heading into the fourth.
Wisconsin pulled away in the fourth, going 9-for-18 from the field while Oakland hit just three shots in the frame, giving the Badgers an eventual 56-89 victory.
Luehring scored a season-high 24 points (8-for-16 FG), draining three 3-pointers and added two steals. Smith finished with 11 points (5-for-11 FG), two assists and a steal. Gold recorded seven points, four rebounds and two blocks.
Ella Riggs added six points by converting two of three from 3-point range.
Up next, the Golden Grizzlies return home to host Rochester Christian University on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at OU Credit Union O'rena in Rochester, Mich.
