Wisconsin’s win over No. 24 Nebraska is remarkably different and changes the outlook

Robin Pingeton continues to work magic in Madison. The Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team earned its second win of the season over a ranked opponent Wednesday night, defeating the no. 24 Nebraska 63-60. That win now gives the Badgers three wins over top-25 NET teams.

Gift Uchenna Okeke propels the Badgers to another upset win with another double-double.

It was a solid all-around team performance for Wisconsin, but Gift Uchenna Okeke was the Badgers’ MVP on Wednesday. The Southern Illinois transfer scored a season-high 22 points and tallied her third double-double this year with a team-high 14 rebounds. Uchenna Okeke set the tone in the first half with 18 points, all of which were on layups in the post, to help Wisconsin carry a 38-25 lead into halftime. 

The Cornhuskers responded in the third quarter by outscoring the Badgers 22-7 to take a 47-45 lead into the fourth quarter. Nebraska appeared on its way to escape the Kohl Center after Logan Nissley buried a three-pointer to give the Huskers a 54-48 lead with 7:25 left in the game. Still, Kyrah Daniels jump-started the Badgers’ rally with a driving layup plus the foul shot with just over six minutes remaining in the game. 

That three-point play sparked a final 15-6 scoring run for Wisconsin. With under two minutes left, the Badgers tied the game on a Daniels’ three-pointer to make it 60-60. After Daniels converted 1-of-2 free throws with 1:04 left in the game and the Badgers forced a Husker traveling turnover, it was Uchenna Okeke, taking an in-bounds pass from Ronnie Porter, who drove into the paint for a layup to make it 63-60. 

On Nebraska’s final possession, the Huskers’ Britt Prince missed a corner three while defended by Porter. The Huskers gathered the offensive rebound in the frantic final seconds, but Destiny Howell blocked Callin Hake’s three-point attempt at the top of the key to preserve the Badgers’ win. 

Entering this game, the Badgers are on the outside looking in, according to CBS’s Connor Groel and ESPN’s Charlie Creme’s Bracketology predictions, despite Wisconsin’s comeback win over Oregon. With this win, Badger fans might start seeing their team’s name in Bracketology, something that hasn't happened for Wisconsin in a long time.