MADISON, Wis. - The Northern Illinois University women's basketball team shot a season-low 22.9 percent from the field Wednesday night as the Wisconsin Badgers snapped the Huskies' three-game winning streak by a score of 75-54 at the Kohl Center.

Moriah Prewitt (Urbandale, Iowa/Des Moines Christian School), Kortney Drake (Wilton, Iowa/Kirkwood CC) and Jayden Marable (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) each led the Huskies with 11 points. Prewitt's 11 points were a career-high. Tara Stauffacher (Columbus, Wis./Wisconsin) had a team-high eight rebounds to go with five points and two assists.

NIU (3-4) got out to a 6-2 lead in the first minute behind a pair of Drake three-pointers. Wisconsin came back with a 9-0 run sparked by two Natalie Leuzinger layups to take an 11-6  lead at the 5:20 mark of the first quarter. The Huskies took back the lead with 4:39 to go in the opening quarter as threes from Drake and Stauffacher made the score 12-11. NIU led 14-13 when a Leuzinger basket and a pair of D'Yanis Jimenez free throws put Wisconsin back up 17-14 in final minutes. The Huskies had a chance to tie the game but missed a corner three. Jimenez beat the buzzer with a three of her own to put the Badgers up 20-14.

"We shot the ball well early, then we missed some good shots," said head coach Lisa Carlsen. "I think that affected our defensive intensity. Wisconsin is really good up and down the floor and they got some good looks in transition. They scored in the paint a lot and we just have to be more disciplined in those situation, not allow teams to get really comfortable."

Drake cut the Badgers' lead to four early in the second quarter, but NIU would go cold from the field after that. Wisconsin took advantage of eight straight missed shots by the Huskies to go on a 16-0 run over 3:54 to take a 36-16 lead. A Marable jumper at the 4:13 mark of the second ended the Badgers run. A Prewitt three got the Huskies as close as 19, 42-23, with 1:31 to go before a Serah Williams layup gave the Badgers a 44-23 halftime lead.

Wisconsin (5-2) took its largest lead of the game with 6:17 to go in the third when Brooke Schramek converted a three-point play to put the Badgers up by 29, 55-26. The Huskies were able to cut the final deficit down to 21, finishing the game on a 7-0 run highlighted by five points from Prewitt to make the final score 75-54.

"Regardless of the score tonight, we got better as a team," Carlsen said. "We got better in some areas. There were some kids that got significant time on the floor. I can't tell you how excited I am that Jayde [Van Hyfte} is actually able to get on the floor and she's going to continue to be more comfortable out there. It's a little emotional to see her out on the floor because she hasn't played in almost two years. To think about how long it's been and what's she's gone through to get to this point. This is what she came here to do and she's going to help this team going forward."

The Huskies attempted a season-high 40 three-pointers Wednesday night, making 11. NIU also outrebounded Wisconsin by seven, 48-41. Williams led five Badgers in double-figure scoring with 16 points, adding five rebounds and four blocks. Jimenez had 13 points off the bench.

NIU is back on the road on Sunday, Dec. 3 for a 1 p.m. CT time matchup at SIUE.

—NIU—