LINCOLN, Neb. —  The University of Wisconsin women's basketball team competed against Nebraska on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and lost 82-54.

Serah Williams recorded a team-high 18 points (8-15 FG, 0-1 3FG, 2-3 FT), tying the career high that she set against Bradley. While she may be just a freshman, the Brooklyn native goes up strong at the net and does not shy away from contact. 

Avery LaBarbera accompanied Williams with 17 points (6-12 FG, 5-7 3FG) of her own, which marks a season-high for the graduate senior. The guard also added team-highs in rebounds with five and assists with three. 

Wisconsin started off close with Nebraska, but slowly began to trail. The Badgers gave up a 15-0 run to the Cornhuskers in the final 4:20 of the first quarter, and UW did not score again until about three minutes into quarter two. A couple of threes dropped by Krystyna Ellew and LaBarbera helped get UW within nine points of Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers pulled away in the final minutes of the half and led by 16 after the first 20 minutes concluded.

The Badgers had their best offensive performance in the third quarter as they dropped 21 points, but their shooting woes in the other three quarters left the team struggling to keep up with an impressive Huskers squad.

Nebraska shot 50% (30-60) from field-goal range, including 46.4% (13-28) from three and 81.8% (9-11) from the free throw line. Jaz Shelley was the offensive powerhouse for the Huskers, scoring 31 points (12-19 FG, 7-12 3FG) on the night, with 18 points coming in the first half.

Wisconsin was just two rebounds shy of Nebraska's 36, but was outnumbered in assists with Nebraska recording 20 and Wisconsin providing nine. UW also committed 21 turnovers, with Nebraska giving away the ball 14 times.

Notes to know

• Freshman Serah Williams continued to assert herself as an impressive scorer, accumulating a team-high 18 points. 

• Avery LaBarbera had her best offensive performance as a Badger, notching a season-high 17 points along with five rebounds and three assists. 

Up next

Wisconsin heads home to face St. Thomas on Sunday, Dec. 11. The game will be played in the Kohl Center and will be streamed on BTN+ at 1:00 p.m.