Wisconsin's journey to the WNIT semifinals hit a roadblock on Monday night as they ran out of steam.
The Badgers faced a setback early on when all-Big Ten player Serah Williams suffered a knee injury on the first possession. The team also lost defensive stalwart Sania Copeland to a possible concussion late in the first half. Their absence proved crucial, and having them on the court could have made a big difference for UW.
Despite their best efforts, the Wisconsin women's basketball team saw their season come to an end with a 65-60 defeat to Saint Louis in the WNIT quarterfinals. The game, played in front of 2,198 fans at the Kohl Center, marked the end of an impressive two-week tournament run for the Badgers, their first postseason appearance in 13 years.
Reflecting on the season, senior Halle Douglass remarked, "We'd never played in the postseason before. Just the fact that we were able to do that and get here is a huge milestone for us." She added, "I think we were truly playing our best basketball at the right time of year, so it kind of sucks to go out like this, but I feel like we should be really proud of what we did and how we were playing these last few games because it's better than it has been."
Despite the loss, Wisconsin finished the season with a 15-17 record, matching their highest victory total in five years. The team also celebrated Serah Williams' achievement as their first all-Big Ten first-team selection in a decade. Her absence in the game due to the injury was a significant blow to the team's offense and defense.
Williams injured her knee after a missed layup and had to be helped off the court. Although the extent of her injury was not immediately known, she watched the second half without the ice pack on her knee. However, after the game, she left the court with the aid of a crutch.
Senior Brooke Schramek praised the team's resilience, saying, "It's scary to see a teammate go down, especially one like Serah who we play off of a lot. But this team knows how to step up when they need to. ... That trust we've had in each other. That's been growing throughout the season."
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