MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's basketball team (3-6) battled a strong Green Bay offense, but were unable to close the gap and ultimately fell to the Phoenix, 72-58, on Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center.

"Obviously we're disappointed in the outcome of the game," head coach Bobbie Kelsey said. "They hit some shots that we didn't, we were right in their face and other times we were not where we were supposed to be so that was very disappointing.

"Rebounding-wise we didn't do a very good job there. We did get to the free-throw line but you have to knock them down. We only missed a good seven there but we just have to shoot a better percentage."

The Phoenix (6-2) had four players in double-digits, as the team shot 65.4 percent (17-26) from field-goal range in the first half compared to the Badgers' 38.1 percent (8-21). Green Bay just barely surpassed UW in the second half, as the Phoenix shot 37.5 percent (9-of-24) and the Badgers shot 36.0 percent (9-of-25).

Despite the loss, three Badgers scored in double digits, as senior Nicole Bauman led the way with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Bauman also shot 100 percent in free throws (4-for-4) on the night.

Senior Michala Johnson stepped up and garnered 15 points and seven rebounds, while fellow senior Dakota Whyte tallied 10 points. Whyte also shot 100 percent from the free-throw line, as the guard sank all four attempts.

Junior Avyanna Young added seven points and three boards, while sophomore Cayla McMorris gathered six points for the Badgers off the bench.

Both McMorris and senior Tessa Cichy shot 100 percent from the free-throw line, each hitting both of their two attempts at the courtesy stripe.

The Phoenix took immediate advantage of the game, remaining on top of the Badgers for nearly 39 minutes.

"They all contribute," Cichy said of the Green Bay team. "We should have been able to defend them. It's not necessarily what they did, it's more on our end. We didn't step up to the challenge and do what we needed to do, myself included."

A pair of 3-pointers, one from the Phoenix and the Badgers apiece, began the action for the two teams in the first quarter.

Led by Whyte's eight points in the first, the Badgers tried to close the gap early on. Through back-and-forth action, the two teams battled, but the Phoenix prevailed and ended the first quarter on top, 28-18.

Eager to compete, Bauman sank a 3-pointer and Johnson made a quick layup to start off the quarter for a 5-0 Badger run, but it was shut down by a 7-0 run from the Phoenix to bring Green Bay ahead, 35-23.

Johnson stopped the run with a layup to bring the game within 10 points, but the Phoenix were right back in the paint with a layup of their own.

Bauman sank a 3-pointer to bring the Badgers within 10 (39-29) once again. Young was sent to the line after a foul and sank one free throw to cut the Phoenix lead down to nine.

A short 3-0 run by Green Bay at the tail end of the second quarter put the Phoenix ahead, 42-30, heading into halftime.

Green Bay continued the run with five straight points to start the third quarter, but it was quickly stopped by a 4-0 McMorris run, bringing the score to 47-34.

The Phoenix shut it down quickly with a 3-pointer, however the Badgers answered back with a 4-0 run, shrinking the lead to only 12 (50-38).

With a 6-0 run, Green Bay closed out the third quarter, leading the Badgers 56-38 heading into the final quarter of the game.

Bauman nailed a 3-pointer once again to start off the fourth quarter, but the Phoenix came back with a 3-pointer of their own to draw the foul and sink the free throw shot.

Young made a 3-0 run of her own, but it was equalized by a Green Bay 3-pointer. Cichy answered back quickly under pressure with her own 3-pointer, bringing the score to 62-47.

The Badgers battled the Phoenix through a series of free throw shots and a pair of layups from Johnson, but they were unable to close the gap, as Green Bay charged ahead to the final score, 72-58.

The Badgers face a short turnaround, as they host Northern Illinois on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Kohl Center.