Still without senior Alyssa Karel, the Badgers fell 69-43 to in-state rival UW-Green Bay in their first true road test of the young season.
Though Wisconsin grabbed a quick lead after Lin Zastrow put in the first two of her 18 points to open the game, the 2-0 lead was the only one the Badgers would have all night. UW-Green Bay responded with an 8-0 run and never looked back.
The Phoenix lead ultimately grew to 21 as the defending Horizon League champions went into the half up 40-19, keeping that lead over the 20-point mark for the majority of the second half.
The Phoenix had three players in double digits for the night, led by senior guard Celeste Hoewisch's 22 points. The Badgers, on the other hand, managed to get only one player in double digits, as Lin Zastrow put up another valiant effort, filling in for Karel as that on-court leader with 18 points, one shy of her career high, on 9 of 9 from the field to go along with eight rebounds in 32 minutes of action.
Throughout the night, the three-point shot killed Wisconsin's chances at forging a comeback. While the Badgers struggled, shooting just 20 percent from beyond the arc (two of 10), the Phoenix were lights out, shooting down virtually every Badger mini-run by shooting 64 percent from three-point range (seven of 11).
Turnovers were another killer in this first Badger loss of the season. After turning the ball over just 24 times in wins over St. Louis and William and Mary, Wisconsin matched that total Thursday night. By comparison, the Phoenix coughed it up just 11 times, once again allowing them to stay in control of a game that was theirs for the taking virtually from the opening tip.
After two relatively easy wins, this game was the first true test for a Badger team still struggling to find its way along without its leader, senior guard Alyssa Karel, who is still day-to-day with a left knee injury suffered in the team's exhibition opener against Winona State now two weeks ago.
In the wake of this tough defeat, Wisconsin faces yet another test this Sunday at the Kohl Center against Kansas, as the Badgers open up the first of two games they will play in this year's Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge.
—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report
