Sophie Hart scored a career-high 18 points, and Mallory Heyer made five 3-pointers and scored 17 for Minnesota.

Minnesota cut its deficit to six early in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans then put them away Thursday night.

Gophers center Sophie Hart, left, is averaging 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Hart was key in limiting Wisconsin’s standout forward Serah Williams to 16 points and six rebounds, but just four points and two rebounds in the final 20 minutes. One of the two players nationally averaging a double-double, Williams entered averaging 18.7 and a conference-best 11.4 rebounds per game.