MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's basketball team (4-1, 0-0 B1G) will wrap up its three-game homestand by hosting the Omaha Mavericks (1-3, 0-0 Summit) on Saturday, Nov. 21. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. (CT), and the game will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast on 1070 WTSO-AM.
Here are five things to know before the Badgers face off against the Mavericks:
1. SEASON OVERVIEW: The Badgers are loaded with talent this season, with all 15 players seeing minutes on the court. Leading the way are Serah Williams (19.8 ppg), Ronnie Porter (15.0 ppg), and Carter McCray (9.6 ppg). Defensively, Wisconsin has excelled at limiting opponents' shooting, holding teams to just 39.2% from the field. The team is also averaging 3.2 blocks and 7.2 steals per game, showcasing their defensive depth and versatility.
Wisconsin has been dominant on the boards, out-rebounding opponents 40.2 to 34.4, an improvement over last year's narrow 36.3 to 36.0 edge.
2. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers earned a hard-fought 61-57 victory over the UIC Flames on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Kohl Center. Serah Williams reached a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points in the first quarter to become the 29th Badger to do so. Williams accomplished the feat in just 66 games, tying for the third-fastest in program history. She finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, marking her 25th career double-double and bringing her career point total to 1,016.
Carter McCray contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
As a team, Wisconsin shot 47.2% (25-53) from the floor and 83.3% (10-12) from the free-throw line. Defensively, they held UIC to 37.3% shooting (22-59) and just 30% (3-10) from three-point range.
3. HISTORY WITH OMAHA: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Badgers and Mavericks. The two teams were originally scheduled to play on Dec. 22, 2020, but the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS: Omaha is off to a 1-3 start this season under head coach Carrie Banks, with only five players returning from the 2023-24 roster.
The team is led by Grace Cave, who averages 15.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are shooting 41.3% from the field and averaging 24.3 field goals per game. They also grab 31.6 rebounds per contest and average 7.9 steals.
Historically, Omaha has struggled against Big Ten opponents, with an 0-5 record. Their most recent loss came in a season-opening 88-44 defeat to Nebraska.
5. UP NEXT: Following this matchup, the Badgers will head to Cancun, Mexico, for the Cancun Challenge from Nov. 28-30. Wisconsin will face off against San Diego State, Providence, and VCU during the event.
