COLUMBUS, Ohio. — The Wisconsin women's basketball team (10-10, 3-7 B1G) lost to the No. 8 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (18-3, 9-1 B1G), 87-49, Thursday, Feb. 1 inside the Schottenstein Center. After a close first half, Ohio State dominated the second half, handing Wisconsin a loss.

Wisconsin struck first, with Brooke Schramek draining a three-pointer to ignite the offense. Natalie Leuzinger was the next Badger to strike, as she drove to the basket to sink a layup. The Buckeyes responded with shots of their own, but it was only a matter of time until Serah Williams made it to the rim. With a great counter move followed by a tough finish inside, the conference's most recent Big Ten Player of the Week drained her first points of the night. The back-and-forth scoring persisted for the entirety of the first quarter, with no team creating more than a three-point scoring differential. Halle Douglass landed a triple to finish off the Badgers' quarter-one scoring, and propelled the Badgers back into the lead, 16-15, to finish Q1. 

Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade winner Tessa Grady landed a triple in front of her home crowd to get the offense rolling for Wisconsin at the start of the second quarter. Ohio State proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to try and suppress Wisconsin, but Williams promptly delivered a layup to get Wisconsin back within two. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native immediately followed up with a hook shot, her 10th point of the game, marking the 13th consecutive time she has scored in double figures this season. Ohio State slightly pulled away to conclude the half, leading by just five points and up 31-26 heading into the locker room.

The second half looked drastically different than the one, with the Buckeyes really stifling the Badgers. One positive for Wisconsin was Williams securing her ninth double-double of the season, seventh consecutive, which tied her with Theresa Huff for second all-time in consecutive double-doubles. Other than that, the Buckeyes stifled the Badgers, outscoring them 39-11 in the third quarter. Wisconsin was unable to find an answer for Ohio State and fell by a final score of 87-49.

Wisconsin shot 32.7% (17-52) from the field range and 22.2% (4-18) from 3-point range. The Badgers shot 84.6% (11-13) from the free-throw line. 

Ohio State went 50.0% (33-66) from field-goal range, including 38.1% (8-21) from behind the arc. The Buckeyes were 81.3 (13-16) from the charity stripe. Jacy Sheldon led OSU in scoring, notching 17 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3FG, 4-5 FT) and snagging three rebounds and five assists.

Notes to know

• Williams secured her ninth double-double of the season, seventh consecutive, which ties her with Theresa Huff at second all-time in consecutive double-doubles.

• With two blocks, Serah Williams tied Emily Ashbaugh at number six in all-time Badger blocks with 113. 

• The Badgers dominated on second chance points grabbing 23 to the Buckeyes' 10.

• The Badgers also outmatched the Buckeyes in rebounds going 40-31.

Up next

Wisconsin remains on the road as it travels to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern on Sunday, Feb. 4 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game can be streamed on B1G+  or listened to on 1070 WTSO-AM.