(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The Wisconsin women’s basketball team tipped off the 2026-27 season with a resounding, 101-69, exhibition win over UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the opening minutes and never looked back. Wisconsin shot the ball particularly well, connecting on 57.6% (34-59) from the field, including 10-for-25 (40.0%) from 3-point range. UW also owned a decisive advantage at the foul line, going 23-for-29 (79.3%) compared the the Blugolds 12-for-12 effort.
Wednesday marked the Badger debut for Wisconsin’s three freshmen – Adaline Sheplee, Alicia Courthiau and Leah Nordin – and the trio shined with a combined 41 points. Sheplee, a Rice Lake, Wis. native led all scorers 25 points, going 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from long range.
In all, six Badgers scored in double figures, including 17 from newcomer Teagan Mallegni. A transfer from Iowa, Mallegni went 5-for-7 from 3-point range. Caia Rose (12), Laci Steele (11), Addison Deal (11) and Courthiau (11) rounded out the double-digit scorers.
UW out-rebounded UWEC, 34-23, and dished 24 assists to just 14 turnovers.
How it happened:
Wisconsin took charge to begin the game with a layup from freshman Alicia Courthiau to put the team on the board and score her first points as a Badger. Sheeplee quickly followed up with another layup assisted by Addison Deal.
Overall, Deal led the team in assists alongside Caia Rose, with each totalling six assists in the game.
UW went up 12–0 over Eau Claire for the first three minutes of the quarter with Wisconsin freshmen scoring 13 of the first 16 points in the game.
Across the second quarter the team put up 12 points from the paint and went seven-for-eight from the free throw line. Wisconsin finished the first half with 49 points and shot 17-for-28 on field goals.
The bench scored 17 points throughout the second half, tallying 28 total points.
Rose scored point 100 for Wisconsin on a free throw in the final minute of the game. The senior went four-for-four from the line in the game.
Up Next:
Wisconsin will host Bradley University in the regular-season opener on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. (CST)
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