MADISON, Wis. — In its first game of the new year, the Wisconsin women's basketball team fell at home versus No. 6 Indiana Wednesday night at the Kohl Center, falling 76-53.
After not playing their last two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the team, the Badgers (3-10, 0-3 B1G) returned to the hardwood, re-entering Big Ten Conference play against just their second ranked opponent this season and their highest ranked opponent in the last five seasons.
Shooting percentages and rebounds made the biggest difference in the game as the Hoosiers shot 48.3% (28-58) from the field, including 42.1% (8-19) from 3-point range, while Wisconsin shot 35.7% (20-56), including just 28.6% (6-21) from behind the arc.
The Hoosiers had four players score in double figures, behind a game-high 18 from Ali Patberg, while Wisconsin was led by Julie Pospisilova with 15 points and Sydney Hilliard with 10 tallies.
IU also outrebounded the Badgers 36-25. Brooke Schramek led Wisconsin with six boards.
Indiana also outscored UW 34-20 in the paint and finished with a 6-0 advantage on fast-break points.
Wisconsin started out the game hot, taking an early 8-2 lead behind 3 pointers from Halle Douglass and Schramek.
An 18-2 Indiana run late in the second period and into the third quarter broke the game open for the Hoosiers. IU led 28-21 with 2:41 to play in the first half before going on a 8-0 run to lead 36-21 at the half. Indiana continued its scoring run in the third quarter, taking a 42-21 lead just over two minutes into the period.
Despite trailing by 23 points (46-23) in the middle of the third period. Wisconsin put up its best stretch of the game in the quarter, shooting 50% (9-18) from the field and matching Indiana's scoring through the third frame. Despite its improved shooting, the Badgers could not close the gap against IU.
After shooting just 27.6% (8-29) in the first half, the Badgers shot the ball better in the second half, hitting 44.4% (12-27).
Wisconsin turned the ball over 14 times while dishing off 12 assists, including four apiece from Hilliard and Katie Nelson. Hilliard led all players with three steals as the Badgers tallied eight steals in the game.
Free throws also were key as Indiana went to the line 14 times, making 12 for 85.7% while the Badgers were just 7-9 from the charity stripe for 77.8%.
Straight from the Court
Head coach Marisa Moseley
"I thought we started the game really well. I think we had some energy and some excitement around the fact that we finally got to play again. We have the ability to compete and to win these games, but we need to play really well in every possession.
Both (Sydney Hilliard and Julie Pospisilova) have been really great and have stepped up and done things that we needed them to do. I continue to challenge them and lean on them even more to make an impact on both ends of the floor from start to finish."
Notes to Know
- Sophomore Halle Douglass took a career high 12 field goal attempts, including a career best six 3-point field goal attempts. The 6-foot-1 guard scored nine points, her third-highest point total this season.
- Wisconsin returned to action after a 20-day layoff due to COVID-19, final exams and the holidays.
- No. 6 Indiana is the highest ranked team the Badgers have played since facing No. 2 Maryland on Feb. 15, 2017. The Hoosiers also tied an opponent season high with 18 assists.
- UW pulled down a season-low 25 rebounds, dropping its season average to 31.6 boards per game. The Badgers also tied their season low with just one block.
- Junior Julie Pospisilova continues her streak of scoring in double figures all 13 games this season. She leads the Badgers with 14.5 points per game.
Up next
The Badgers take to the road on Sunday, playing at Illinois (5-7, 0-1). Tip time is 1 p.m. from State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois, streamed on B1G+.
