Senior forward Ali Andrews led the Illini with 15 points as Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 71-55, Wednesday at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis.

Illinois had played Wisconsin once previously this season, losing, 73-64, in Champaign on February 2.

The two teams played similarly in the first, with Illinois shooting roughly 22% from the field and Wisconsin shooting roughly 24% from the field. The first 10 minutes came to a close with an 11-11 tie.

“I feel like we came out, we fought,” said freshman forward Kennedi Myles. “I can’t really pin out a point where we were dead, where we were flat. I mean, we can always go out harder but I mean we did what we could.”

In the closing minutes of the first quarter, Illinois took a four-point lead but two Wisconsin layups tied the game. Wisconsin’s Imani Lewis and Illinois freshman forward Kennedi Myles tied for points with 4 each in the first.

In the second period, Wisconsin’s Niya Beverley hit back-to-back three-pointers and the Badgers climbed to a seven-point lead by the media timeout following a 6-0 run over the span of about a minute and a half.

Wisconsin continued to dominate the second quarter, as Wisconsin’s Julie Pospisilova hit a 3-pointer for a 10-point lead with four minutes left in the first half, while Illinois went on a nearly five-minute scoring drought.

Illinois entered the half with a 32-24 deficit, and Myles co-led the Illini with seven points in the first half. Beverley led the Badgers and all scorers with eight.

Senior forward Ali Andrews had five points in the second quarter and tied Myles in scoring with seven first-half points.

Wisconsin shot significantly better in the first half, making 69.2% of its field goals in the second period. Illinois made 33.3% of its second-quarter shots.

Wisconsin’s Abby Laszewski made a free throw to open the third quarter, but Andrews responded with a three to cut the Badger lead to 6. Laszewski scored seven more points in the third as Wisconsin gained a nine-point lead by the halfway point of the third.

Wisconsin’s Sydney Hilliard scored four points after the third quarter media timeout with just under five minutes remaining, prompting an Illinois timeout with 3:38 left to play. Wisconsin was on another 6-0 run while Illinois was on a three-minute scoring drought.

Illinois entered the final period with a 52-39 deficit. Freshman guard Jeanae Terry and Myles each made a layup to cut Wisconsin’s lead to nine.

As the final period progressed, Wisconsin maintained a steady lead, thanks to Laszewski’s 10 fourth-quarter points.

In the closing minutes, head coach Nancy Fahey subbed out the senior class individually. Senior Taylor Edwards was subbed in briefly and was the last senior on the court.

“Overall, we wanted that W,” Andrews said. “It was just really emotional (knowing) that’s the last time I’ll wear the Illini uniform.”

@claire_obrien43

[email protected]