Williams Returns But Badgers Can't Overcome Huskers
The return of Serah Willliams wasn’t enough to help the Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team to their first Big Ten win of the season.
Williams had 16 points in her return after a two-game absence but the Nebraska Cornhuskers outlasted the Badgers, 69-57, on Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers (7-6, 0-3 in Big Ten) have now lost four of their last six games dating back to a Dec. 3 loss to Butler.
Williams missed the last two games, the latter due to an illness and she fueled their third-quarter comeback that made it a one possession game going into the final 10 minutes. She had eight of her points during the quarter as the Badgers cut the Cornhuskers (11-3, 3-0) lead to two points, 49-47.
But the Badgers couldn’t finish the job. Nebraska outscored Wisconsin, 20-10, in the final 10 minutes and had enough of a cushion down the stretch to withstand any late rally the Badgers could muster.
Williams also had nine rebounds in her return as she played 34 minutes.
Three other players scored in double figures for the Badgers, including Natalie Leuzinger, who delivered another fine game off the bench with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. She’s scored in double figures in each of the last three games.
Brooke Schramek had 12 points while Ronnie Porter nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Porter also had seven assists.
Natalie Potts led Nebraska with 16 points, as the Huskers authored their first 3-0 start to Big Ten play since the 2011-12 season. Potts also had five rebounds and three steals. Alex Markowski had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Wisconsin is back on the floor on Sunday when it travels to Champaign to face Illinois, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. and game to be broadcast on BIG+.
