MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a gritty in-state rivalry game that required an extra period to decide, the Marquette Golden Eagles outlasted the Wisconsin Badgers 65-62 in a non-conference women’s basketball showdown Saturday afternoon at the Bradley Center.

The game was a defensive struggle from the start, with both teams struggling to find consistent offense. Wisconsin built an early lead, taking a 33-26 advantage into halftime after a strong first quarter. However, Marquette’s defense tightened significantly after the break, holding the Badgers to just nine points in the third quarter to claw their way back into the game.

The fourth quarter saw a dramatic shift in momentum as the Golden Eagles exploded for 24 points, erasing the Wisconsin lead and forcing a 59-59 tie at the end of regulation. The comeback set the stage for a tense overtime period where defense again took center stage.

Overtime was a low-scoring affair, with the two teams combining for just nine points. Marquette managed to secure the victory by outscoring Wisconsin 6-3 in the extra frame, largely on the strength of a crucial 3-pointer from Skylar Forbes with under 10 seconds remaining that gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good.

Forbes, a 6-foot-3 guard from Markham, Canada, led all scorers with 19 points and added four assists and three blocks for Marquette. Her backcourt mate, Jaidynn Mason, contributed 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks. The Golden Eagles were anchored inside by Halle Vice, who delivered a monumental performance with 14 rebounds to go with eight points, three assists and two blocks in 43 minutes of action.

Wisconsin was led by Kyrah Daniels, who scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Destiny Howell added 14 points and five rebounds, while Gift Uchenna recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Statistically, the game was a tale of defensive pressure and missed opportunities. Wisconsin forced 20 Marquette turnovers, converting them into 13 points, and recorded 14 steals. However, the Badgers struggled mightily with their shooting, connecting on just 34.8 percent of their field goal attempts and a frigid 22.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Marquette was only marginally more efficient from the floor, shooting 39 percent, but capitalized at the free-throw line, making 14 of 19 attempts compared to Wisconsin’s 10 of 14. The Golden Eagles also dominated the interior defensively, blocking eight Badger shots.

With the win, Marquette improves to 2-0 on the young season, while Wisconsin falls to an even 1-1. An announced crowd of 1,633 watched the contest at the Bradley Center.

The Golden Eagles will look to continue their winning streak on the road Tuesday at Minnesota. The Badgers return home to face Milwaukee on Monday.