ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Facing its first ranked team of the season, the Wisconsin women's basketball team struggled at No. 16 Michigan, falling to the Wolverines 92-42 on Thursday afternoon at Crisler Center.

For the first time this season, the Badgers failed to have a double-figure scorer as they set season lows in a number of categories.
 
Freshman Brooke Schramek scored a career-high nine points for UW, hitting 2-3 of 3-point range. Junior Imani Lewis and sophomore Sydney Hilliard also tallied nine points for Wisconsin. Lewis and junior Alex Luehring led the Badgers with four rebounds apiece as Wisconsin was outrebounded for the first time this season, 50-29, by the Wolverines. Hilliard added a team-high three assists and two steals. 
 
The Badgers shot a season-low 29.7% (19-64) from the field as Michigan's stifling defense caused numerous scoring droughts for UW. The Wolverines shot 51.5% (35-68), finishing with four players in double figures, including a game-high 26 by Leigha Brown and 22 by Naz Hillmon. Hillmon also added a team-high 11 rebounds for U-M.

Michigan jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the game and never looked back as Wisconsin could not get its offense on track. The Badgers cut the lead to 8-7 with 6:41 on the clock in the first quarter, but the Wolverines outscored UW 21-8 over the rest of the quarter to lead 29-15 after one period.
The Wolverines outscored Wisconsin 29-13 in the third quarter to put the game away.

Straight from the court

"I don't think it's a good representation of who we are as a team. I think you saw a physical Michigan team that's really experienced, they exerted their will, starting on the backboards but I think defense was the biggest (difference). It forced us to try to make too many plays on a one-to-one setting. I think as a group, we know that this hasn't been our best day basketball wise. We had a lot of people who were unsure of themselves and I attribute that to Michgan's defense." 
 
On Brooke Schramek
"It's good to have Brooke and Halle (Douglass) back. I thought the reason that Brooke had eight (points) in the first half was that she didn't back down. Knowing that she is someone we have to count on to give us bench points, I was really pleased."
--Coach Jonathan Tsipis

Notes to know

• Freshman Brooke Schramek scored a career-high nine points, sharing the team lead in scoring. The 6-foot-1 guard was 3-8 from the field, including a career-best 2-3 from 3-point range. She also added three rebounds and one assist.
• Freshman Lovisa Djurström scored her first career field goal, shooting 1-2 from the field in six minutes of play.
• For the first time this season, no Badger scored in double figures, including leading scorers Sydney Hilliard and Imani Lewis. Both tallied nine points in the contest.
• UW was outrebounded for the first time this season as Michigan finished with a 50-29 advantage.
• Wisconsin recorded season lows for points (49), field goal percentage (29.7%), free throws made and attempted (7-11), rebounds (29), assists (6) and blocks (2) while tying season lows 3-pointers made and attempted (4-12) for turnovers (13) and steals (3).

Up next

The Badgers kick off 2021 on Sunday when they host Minnesota in a Border Battle contest. Tip time is 2 p.m. from the Kohl Center and fans can tune in on Big Ten Network+ or listen in on U 100.9 FM radio.