It all came down to one bizarre call.

But there was so much more that went into this win.

There was the huge individual effort in a sluggish first half; the determination to push the pace in the second; and, most importantly of all, the will to finally break through in a tight situation.

They all combined to send the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team to a 66-64 win over Illinois in a Big Ten Conference game Thursday night at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers had to survive a last-second scare -- and a little controversy -- to improve to 12-11 overall and 5-8 in Big Ten play in front of an announced crowd of 5,045 at the Kohl Center.

The Fighting Illini (14-11, 6-8 Big Ten) had a final possession with 4.9 seconds left, but senior guard Rebecca Harris was whistled for traveling after colliding with UW senior guard Janese Banks just to the right of the top of the key.

All involved were in agreement about one thing -- it wasn 't the call they were expecting.

"I felt like it was a charge," said Banks, who scored 10 points. "I was going to be very upset if it was a block. I didn't think he would call a travel, but hey, I'll take it."

Harris, who finished with 18 points, had scored Illinois' last 10 points and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line.

"I was definitely expecting a different call than a travel," said Harris, who had beaten UW sophomore guard Teah Gant upcourt on the play. "I was prepared for either call that was expected: either a charge or a block. I thought I had the block, because she came underneath me."

It certainly was a change in fortune for UW, which entered the game 0-5 in conference games decided by eight points or less, including two overtime losses.

The Badgers wouldn't have had a lead to protect at the end had it not been for senior guard Jolene Anderson and an energetic start to the second half.

Anderson scored 13 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, and she had all but two of UW's points until a layup by Banks cut the Fighting Illini lead to 19-17 with 8:52 left before halftime.

After trailing 29-28 at halftime, the Badgers upped the tempo after the break and shot 50 percent from the field in the second half. That helped them overcome their struggles defending Illinois sophomore center Jenna Smith (24 points, 14 rebounds) and the Fighting Illini's impressive showing at the foul line (21-for-22).

"We finally caught a break," UW coach Lisa Stone said. "I'm proud of our kids. They've deserved this. We're looking forward to using this as momentum to hopefully springboard us into our next game and build up momentum toward the end of the season."