LINCOLN, Neb. – The Wisconsin women's basketball couldn't overcome a 26-10 first-quarter deficit, falling on the road at Nebraska, 75-62, on Wednesday night.

"It was pretty much even the rest of the way except for that first quarter," head coach Bobbie Kelsey said. "We have to, as a group, do a better job of knowing who can shoot, who can't and making sure each person does their job on their player. The game plan on their posts worked, we just let one person take us out of the game."

That one person was Nebraska's Natalie Romeo, who scored a game-high 30 points, shooting 8-of-14 from 3-point range. The sophomore scored 22 first-half points as the Huskers (15-5, 6-3 Big Ten) led by as many as 21 points in the second quarter.

The Badgers (6-13, 2-7) led 4-3 before Nebraska went on an 11-0 run to take a 14-4 lead with 5:26 to play in the first quarter. Another run, this one 9-4, put the Huskers up 23-8 with 1:56 left. NU led 26-10 at the end of the first period.

Nebraska opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run to go up 31-10 with 8:44 on the clock. Wisconsin cut the lead to 38-29 with 2:56 to play in the half but the Huskers ended the period on an 8-0 run to lead 46-31 at the break.

In the third quarter, Wisconsin cut the lead to seven (55-48) with 4:09 on the clock, opening the period on a 17-9 run. Nebraska scored five straight to lead 60-48 at the end of three periods. UW also pulled within eight (66-58) with 4:42 left in the game but would get no closer.

"We got it to eight and then let somebody get a rebound or we turned it over," Kelsey said. "That's what happens when you dig yourself a hole. We have to just keep figuring it out. We have these lapses. It's disappointing but we're going to keep at it." 

Wisconsin outshot the Huskers from the field, hitting 46.2 percent (30-of-65) compared to 44.3 percent (27-of-61) by Nebraska.
 
Three-point field goals and free throws made a difference with NU hitting 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) from deep and 12-of-15 (80 percent) from the line compared to the Badgers shooting 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) from behind the arc and 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
Senior Michala Johnson came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points, including 15 points in the second quarter, on 10-of-15 shooting from the field.

"Sometimes you have to get their attention in different ways and maybe by not starting, that told her right there that she needs to pick up her play," Kelsey said of Johnson. "She brought it tonight. I was proud of Mic. She took (care of things) on the defensive end too. (Jessica) Shepard is a load and I'm saying that as a compliment. Mic stood her ground and did exactly what we asked her to do."

Shepard, who entered the game averaging a team-best 20.9 points and 9.5 rebounds for Nebraska, was held to eight points and seven rebounds.  

Senior Nicole Bauman picked up her first career double-double with 15 points and tying her career high with 10 rebounds. Senior Tessa Cichy added 10 points.

Wisconsin was outrebounded 41-32, giving up 11 offensive rebounds and allowing the Huskers to score eight second-chance points. The Badgers had 14 assists, including six from Dakota Whyte, and 14 turnovers. Nebraska scored 20 points off UW turnovers.

The Badgers returns home for their Think Pink game against No. 18 Michigan State on Sunday. Tip time is 3 p.m. from the Kohl Center. Tickets are only $1 and UW students receive free admission.