Ronnie Porter wasn’t going to be satisfied with a hard-fought loss in the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team’s first-ever game against Georgetown.
The junior guard ensured an initial seesaw affair went completely in Wisconsin’s direction Sunday.
The St. Paul, Minnesota, native set a career high for the second straight game, pouring in a team-high 26 points to fuel the Badgers to a 79-61 come-from-behind win over the Hoyas at the Kohl Center.
Porter was one of four Badgers in double figures, as Wisconsin started a second straight season 2-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
“We wanted it,” Porter said. “At the end of the day, we came into this game wanting to leave with a ‘W’ and that’s what we did.”
Porter helped Wisconsin take control late in the third quarter after clawing within 46-43 following a 33-32 halftime deficit. The diminutive point guard made a layup off a Georgetown turnover with 4 minutes, 21 seconds left in the quarter, sparking an 11-4 run by the Badgers to end the third.
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Sophomore transfer center Carter McCray scored the next seven Badgers points before Porter hit a floater as time expired to cap the run and give Wisconsin a 54-50 lead. It was the second buzzer-beating floater she hit, as she connected just inside the 3-point line between a group of Georgetown defenders in the final seconds of the first half.
Wisconsin guard Ronnie Porter shoots a floater between a group of Georgetown defenders during Sunday’s nonconference game at the Kohl Center in Madison.
“She knows how to score and one of the things coming into this year that we really focused on was her continuing to be a facilitator, as well,” coach Marisa Moseley said of Porter. “I was really proud to see her just continue to kind of run our team, allow other people to step up, and then when the moment presented itself, she really took advantage of the opportunity.”
Wisconsin’s momentum continued in the fourth. Porter scored 10 of Wisconsin’s first 15 points as the Badgers took a 69-56 lead after her fastbreak layup off a steal with 4:09 to play. That preceded a 10-3 run to put the game out of reach.
The Wisconsin women’s basketball team dribbles out the final seconds of its 79-61 nonconference win over Georgetown on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
“I’ve been here for three years, and this was one of the most fun games I’ve played at the Kohl Center,” forward Serah Williams said. “I think we just stayed together, moved the ball really well and everybody had a hand in what we did today.”
Williams (17), Tess Myers (14) and McCray (11) also scored in double figures, while Georgetown’s Kelsey Ransom led all scores with 27 points on 10 of 21 shooting, including three 3-pointers.
Here are three things that stood out.
Wisconsin’s bigs live up to billing
McCray knew she and Williams would form a formidable frontcourt duo.
The pair gave Badgers fans a taste of what that can mean with dual double-doubles against the Hoyas.
Williams, who set the Big Ten record with 17 consecutive double-doubles last season, finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds to go along with four assists, while McCray had 11 points and 11 rebounds, both setting career highs.
Wisconsin forward Carter McCray battles for a shot attempt against Georgetown’s Kaliya Myricks during Sunday’s nonconference game at the Kohl Center in Madison.
“We’ve seen Carter dominate like this since she got here on campus and these first three halves the ball’s kind of been in-and-out, and she’s been close with little bunnies,” Moseley said.
“I think that’s kind of messed with her a little bit, so I just told her, ‘You’re a bad, you-know-what. Just go out there and play your game.’”
The Badgers leaned on the pair in the second half, when Williams and McCray combined for 22 points and 17 rebounds. It helped account for Wisconsin’s 28 second-half points in the paint and 13 second-chance points.
“We came out in the second half and coach Mo told us to focus on the inside, and coach McKeon was constantly saying ‘Clean up the boards. Every missed shot is ours,’” Williams said. “We took that to heart.”
Tess Myers finds her shooting touch
Myers fueled Wisconsin’s efficient night behind the arc, as the Badgers shot 8-for-19 from 3-point range.
The senior guard was 4 of 9 and finished with a career-best 14 points. Myers helped put the finishing touches on the emphatic second half.
Wisconsin guard Tess Myers connects on a 3-pointer over Georgetown’s Khadee Hession during Sunday’s nonconference game at the Kohl Center in Madison.
She buried back-to-back triples during a 10-2 run in the final four minutes that helped Wisconsin take its largest lead of the game at 79-59.
“I mean, it’s a great feeling and it’s also great to just have my teammates uplifting me,” said Myers, who was 0-for-6 from 3-point range in the Badgers’ exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 29. “I have my teammates always picking me up telling me, ‘Next shot. Next shot,’ and as a shooter, it’s a short-term memory.”
Wisconsin struggles early on inside
The Badgers were able to get plenty of quality looks inside but couldn’t connect for the second straight game.
Wisconsin shot just 5 of 16 from the floor in the opening half, including four missed layups. McCray missed a pair of tip-in second-chance layups, while Porter and Natalie Leuzinger each missed driving layups.
Wisconsin forward Serah Williams gets a block and a steal on Georgetown’s Jaeda Wilson during Sunday’s nonconference game at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Williams also came up empty on a pair of short jumpers, while McCray failed to score on a short-range attempt.
“I think we were rushing and also looking to be bailed out by fouls,” Moseley said. “Every referee crew is different, and I was telling them we can’t rely on that. If we’re getting point-blank shots, we have to get our eyes on the rim and make these easy buckets.”
