MADISON, Wis. — Illinois State's scouting report on Wisconsin doesn't end with Serah Williams, but it certainly starts with the Badgers' talented sophomore.
"She's pretty good. She will be the best post player we've faced all year," said ISU coach Kristen Gillespie of Thursday's 7 p.m. round of 16 WNIT matchup with Wisconsin at Kohl Center. "She's really gifted on both ends. Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten, first team all-league. They go as she goes."
The 6-foot-4 Williams averages 18.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks for the Badgers, who rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit to defeat Southern Indiana 67-62 Monday behind 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks from Williams.
Kate Bullman, ISU's 6-2 defensive specialist, will lead the Redbirds' committee guarding Williams, according to Gillespie. DeAnna Wilson and Savannah McGowan also are likely to take turns.
"They have good guards, but the main focus of their offense is to try to get her post touches," Gillespie said. "We'll try to give her different looks, different bodies. She will definitely be the focus, but we know we have to keep the other kids in check."
The ISU coach is happy to have the 6-3 McGowan available. The freshman sat out Sunday's win over College of Charleston with a minor ankle injury.
"She'll be good to go," said Gillespie. "We approached it if we win Sunday she would be ready for whoever we played and it worked."
The news also is favorable on starting guard Abbie Aalsma. The sophomore is day to day after suffering a knee injury Sunday, but the team was pleased to learn Aalsma has a strain but no structural damage.
"It was the best outcome possible. She's already gotten a little bit better," the ISU coach said. "We've got some good pieces that are pretty interchangeable."
If Aalsma isn't able to play, senior Daijah Smith will start with Caroline Waite and Molly Lenz also likely in store for additional playing time.
"I'm ready to take advantage of any opportunity given to me," said Smith. "Whether I play five minutes or 30 minutes, I'm still going to give it all I got regardless."
The 5-11 Smith averages 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds overall but is at 12 points and 4.8 rebounds over the past five outings.
"It's just realizing this is my last year of college basketball, and I'm ready to leave it all on the floor," she said. "I know the last game could have been our last game, and I thought I'm going to do everything to try to help us win. If not, I'm going to make sure everybody remembers I had a great game my last game."
Smith, who missed the entire 2022-23 season after suffering a preseason knee injury, didn't feel back to 100 percent until recently.
"About a month ago I started feeling fully being in shape and my knees at their strongest," said Smith. "I was still trying to get in the flow of everything (early in the season)."
Playing in the postseason for the fourth straight year, ISU is 22-11 and led by the 14.8 points per game of Wilson.
Point guard Maya Wong adds 11.9, freshman Shannon Dowell 9.1 with Aalsma and Bullman both at 7.5. Bullman grabs a team-best 7.9 rebounds and Wilson 7.1.
Wisconsin's second leading scorer and rebounder is a foot shorter than Williams. At 5-4, sophomore Ronnie Porter chips in 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds.
The 14-16 Badgers score at a 62.0 clip, give up 68.2 and shoot just 28 percent from 3-point range.
"We can be really competitive," Gillespie said. "We fared pretty well last year, and I know we'll be ready to go on Thursday."
ISU defeated Wisconsin 62-57 at CEFCU Arena early last season.
Photos: Redbirds Host Second Round WNIT against Charleston