MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team wrapped up its home season with an 80-70 loss to Nebraska on Wednesday night in the Kohl Center.
 
Despite the loss, the game featured career highs, a career first, and a career milestone.

Sophomore Brooke Schramek notched a career-high 20 points to share game-high honors. Graduate student Katie Nelson notched her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists while junior Julie Pospisilova scored 15 points in the game to go over 700 career points.

All five Badger (7-20, 4-13) starters scored in double figures. In addition to Schramek, Pospisilova and Nelson, sophomore Halle Douglass added 11 points while freshman Krystyna Ellew chipped in 10 points.

Wisconsin outshot the Huskers (21-7, 10-7) from field goal range, hitting 49.1% (26-53) compared to 47.5% (29-61) for Nebraska. Both teams were 7-17 (41.2%) from 3-point range while the Huskers finished with four more made free throws. Nebraska hit 78.9% (15-19) from the charity stripe while the Badgers shot 78.6% (11-14).

Nebraska, which is receiving votes in the national coaches' poll, edged UW, 34-28, in rebounds as Douglass and Ellew led the Badgers with six boards apiece.

Behind Nelson's 10 assists, Wisconsin finished with 18 helpers while turning the ball over 15 times. The Badgers had eight steals, including three from Douglass, to force 11 Husker turnovers.
 
With near identical stat lines and quarter scores, only one blemish came back to haunt the Badgers in the game. Wisconsin led 31-30 with 6:13 to play in the second quarter before Nebraska went on a 10-0 run to lead only had one blemish on the game that came back to 40-31 at the half. UW clawed its way back in the second half. The Badgers closed the gap to six (53-47) with 36 seconds left in the third quarter and got the lead down to five points (56-53) with 8:50 to play in the game. An 8-0 run gave Nebraska a 66-53 lead with 7:02 to play as its sharp shooting from outside held off the Wisconsin comeback.

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Marisa Moseley

"I think that we did a good job of cutting hard. We talked about moving the ball because we didn't want to hold onto it and then have the ball die. They overplayed us quite a bit so we got a lot of backdoors and we finished those plays and made some good reads on that. Katie (Nelson) obviously having 10 assists helps for sure. I think we started making more shots.

"Throughout this season we struggled to score at different times but tonight we had 70. For us to put up 70 points has been a struggle at different times so I think when we're making shots and getting good ball movement it comes out to a positive outcome.

"I'm really excited for us to get an opportunity to come back and play in the Kohl Center. We have had 4,000 to 6,000 fans at different points here during the seasons. To know that our fans are seeing something really special being built and they want to be a part of it and they want to continue to come back and you see little kids in the stands. I'm excited for us to continue to put a good product on the floor and for people to buy in to what we're building here."

Katie Nelson

"I think my teammates set each other up for success. We had some great flare screens. Julie (Pospisilova) was able to knock in a lot of shots. When we attack hard and look for our shot, that creates for each other and my teammates just knocked them in today.

"The thing is that the season is not over yet so we still have a lot more to prove. I think that it was a lot of fun to come in with Coach Moseley knowing her system and being able to play for her for one more year was a really big goal of mine so I have really enjoyed that. I think we experienced a lot of growth, both on and off the court, as a team. I am really excited to see all that they accomplish in the coming years." 

Notes to Know

• Grad student Katie Nelson recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 10 assists while adding 14 points.
• Sophomore Brooke Schramek recorded a career-high 20 points, shooting career bests of 7-14 from the field. The forward tied her career highs from 3-point range, hitting 3-5.
• Junior Julie Pospisilova scored 15 points in the game, going over 700 career points.
• Wisconsin scored 70 points vs. the Huskers, which entered the game allowing 62.8 points per game. It ties for the second-most points scored by the Badgers in a game this season.
• The Badgers dished off 18 assists, tying for second-most in a game this season.

Up next

Wisconsin wraps up the regular on Sunday when it road trips to Purdue. Tip-off is set for noon CT from Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Badgers look to take some momentum into the Big Ten Tournament, which runs from March 2-6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.