MADISON – The Butler Bulldogs are 6-2 overall after claiming a 59-51 road win at Wisconsin on Sunday. Rachel Kent led all players with a game-high 25 points and Caroline Strande would ice the victory from the free throw line to help score 17. Butler has now won six of their last seven games and improve to 3-2 all-time against Wisconsin.
 
Butler opened the game on a 7-0 scoring run forcing Wisconsin to call a timeout just three minutes into the contest. Butler doubled the post and rotated on defense to cause three turnovers and disrupt the Wisconsin offense. Rachel Kent got the 'Dawgs going with a corner 3-pointer in front of the Badger bench. Caroline Strande and Sydney Jaynes would add buckets to increase the lead.
 
Wisconsin moved to a zone defense after the stoppage and the adjustment slowed down the Bulldog attack. The Badger offense also got going and an 8-0 scoring run would get the home team in front by a point (12-11) at the end of the first quarter.
 
Neither team scored a point over the first four minutes of the second frame. Wisconsin broke the scoreless streak with a layup, but BU responded with a Jordan Meulemans 3-pointer. Her second triple of the game tied the score at 14-14.
 
The end of the first half was highlighted by Rachel Kent. She hit three 3-pointers over the last two minutes of action to give BU a 26-22 halftime lead. Kent led all players with 15 points at the break. She shot 5-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from 3.
 
Butler opened the third quarter on a 6-0 run to push their lead to 10 at 32-22. The Badgers responded by getting the ball to Serah Williams. The 6-4 sophomore sparked an 8-0 run to get Wisconsin back within two points at 36-34. BU didn't give up their lead and were able to add two Caroline Strande field goals late in the third to give them a 40-34 advantage heading to the fourth.
 
BU scored the first four points of the fourth which led to Wisconsin calling a timeout with 8:49 to play. The run pushed the lead back to 10 points.
Jaynes hit a big 3-pointer from the top of the key near the midway point of the fourth, but the Badgers used a 7-0 scoring run to get back within two with four to play.
 
Williams picked up her fourth personal foul going for an offensive rebound and Jaynes went at her in the post right after to give BU back-to-back buckets. Butler's defense was the difference in this match-up from start to finish. Getting stops and great free throw shooting in crunch time led to the eight-point road victory. 
 
Inside the Box Score
- Butler played their first game at the Kohl Center since Nov. 20, 2016
- Butler has won six of their last seven games
- The victory was Butler's first against a Big Ten opponent since Dec. 20, 2018
- BU is now 3-2 all-time against Wisconsin; they have won the last two meetings
- Rachel Kent finished the game with 25 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals
- Caroline Strande just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds
- Sydney Jaynes had nine points, five rebounds and two assists in the win
- Ari Wiggins had five assists and just one turnover in 29 minutes of playing time
- Butler led for 30 minutes on Sunday
- Six of Butler's nine made shots in the first half were 3-pointers
- Butler ended the game going 7-for-25 from behind the arc
- BU had nine assists on nine made field goals in the first half
- Serah Williams led Wisconsin with 22 points and 14 rebounds

Up Next
Butler will play two home games next week against Vanderbilt and Chicago State. The Commodores will come to Indianapolis for the first time on Dec. 7 for a Thursday night tip at 7 PM. The Cougars will be at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sunday for a 2 PM tip. Each game will stream on FloHoops.com.