MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Frank Kaminsky scored 22 points in his return from a concussion that sidelined him a game to help No. 7 Wisconsin beat Nebraska 70-55 on Thursday night.

Kaminsky was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 overall after missing the Badgers’ loss at Rutgers on Sunday night. In the first half, Kaminsky blocked Leslee Smith from behind on a drive to the basket, gathered the loose ball, sprinted the length of the court and floated an alley-oop to Sam Dekker.

It was the first full game for the Badgers without starting point guard Traevon Jackson, who injured his ankle Sunday. Bronson Koenig filled in well with 11 points for the Badgers (16-2, 4-1 Big Ten). Nigel Hayes scored 13 points, and Dekker added 11.

Terran Petteway led Nebraska (10-7, 2-3) with 27 points. He had 20 in the first half.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Freshman guard Natalie Romeo scored a career-high 18 points, including a career-best 6 of 11 3-pointers, and No. 17 Nebraska beat Penn State 73-45 on Thursday to win their third straight.

Tear’a Laudermill had 12 points and a career-high five steals, Ali Havers scored 11, Brandi Jeffrey 10, and Emily Cady had six assists and eight rebounds for the Cornhuskers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten Conference), who never trailed and shot 11 of 29 from 3-point range.

Candice Agee scored 13 and Kaliyah Mitchell had 12 rebounds and four steals for the Nittany Lions (3-14, 0-6).

Romeo scored two 3-pointers amid a 14-2 run and Nebraska led 29-15 after Jeffrey hit back-to-back 3s. Romeo hit her third 3 and the Cornhuskers led 38-22 at halftime.

Romeo hit three 3s early in the second half for a 56-32 Nebraska lead, then Rachel Theriot made consecutive jumpers for a 60-36 lead and the Cornhuskers cruised.

The Nebraska men’s basketball team will face one of its stiffest tests of the season, as the Huskers travel to No. 7 Wisconsin Thursday night.

Tipoff between the Huskers and Badgers at the Kohl Center is set for 8:05 p.m. (central) and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 with Rece Davis and Seth Greenberg on the call. The game is also available online and on mobile devices on the WatchESPN app.

The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, 1110 KFAB in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Matt Davison adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Thursday’s game is also broadcast nationally on Compass Sport Networks.

The Huskers (10-6, 2-2 Big Ten) got back to .500 in Big Ten play with a 53-43 win over Illinois Sunday evening. NU, which was playing its third game in seven days, showed its mettle on the defensive end, holding Illinois to 27.3 percent shooting. That marked the Huskers’ best defensive field goal percent against a conference opponent since 2006.

Combined with the 49 points allowed to Rutgers on Thursday, it was the first time since 1963 that Nebraska held consecutive conference opponents under 50 points. Nebraska has been stout on defense all season, ranking second in the Big Ten in field goal defense (37.7 percent) and have held seven of the last eight opponents under 40 percent shooting.

Offensively, All-America candidate Terran Petteway had 13 of his 18 points in the second half against Illinois, and the junior guard is second in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.9 points per game, while also averaging career highs in rebounding (5.4) and assists (2.8). Junior forward Shavon Shields is fifth in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.1 points per game while topping the Big Red and ranking sixth in the Big Ten with 6.9 rebounds per game.

The Huskers will need big efforts from their all-conference performers Thursday night, as Wisconsin comes into the matchup with a 15-2 record after falling at Rutgers, 67-62 on Sunday. The Badgers, who are 9-1 at home, rank sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 54.1 points per game. Wisconsin was without preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky, who averages 16.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, in Sunday’s loss, but should be back for the NU game.

After a successful two-game Big Ten road swing, the No. 17 Nebraska women’s basketball team returns home to open a two-game conference home stand when the Huskers take on Penn State Thursday.

Tip-off between the Big Red (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) and the Lady Lions (3-13, 0-5 Big Ten) is set for 6 p.m. (central) at Pinnacle Bank Arena with live national television coverage by the Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Stephanie White on the call.

Live radio coverage will be provided by the Husker Sports Network, with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call on stations across the network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, 93.3 FM in Omaha and 880 AM in Lexington. Free live audio also will be available on Huskers.com.

After opening Big Ten play with back-to-back losses to No. 23 Minnesota and No. 8 Maryland, the Huskers bounced back with a pair of comeback wins at Michigan State and Illinois last week. NU trailed by six with under four minutes left before rallying for a 71-67 win over the Spartans Thursday. Sunday at Illinois, the Huskers rallied from a six-point deficit with just over eight minutes left to post a 58-53 win.

Close games are nothing new for the Big Red. In fact, nine of Nebraska’s 15 games this season have been decided by single digits, including six games by five points or less.

All-American Rachel Theriot continues to lead the Nebraska backcourt. The 6-0 guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, is averaging 18.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. She is coming off a 27-point performance where she carried Nebraska to victory in the second half. Theriot scored 20 points in the second half, including 11 of NU’s final 15 points.

While Theriot leads the Husker backcourt, Emily Cady provides production and mental toughness for Nebraska in the post. Cady is averaging 13.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Tear’a Laudermill, Hailie Sample and Brandi Jeffery round out a solid and experienced starting five.

Penn State comes to Lincoln as the three-time defending Big Ten regular-season champion, but the Lady Lions have fallen on hard times with the loss of four starters from last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. The Lady Lions shared the conference title with Michigan State last season.

#17 Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 7.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 13.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 7.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg
33 – Rachel Theriot – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 18.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg
Off the Bench
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 6.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 1.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – 0.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg
50 – Darrien Washington – 6-2 – Fr. – F – High School
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
13th Season at NU (253-145); 25th Season Overall (448-285)

Penn State Lady Lions (3-13, 0-5 Big Ten)
12 – Lindsey Spann – 5-6 – RFr. – G – 16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
5 – Sierra Moore – 5-11 – So. – G – 11.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg
1 – Candice Agee – 6-6 – Jr. – C – 10.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg
10 – Keke Sevillian – 5-7 – So. – G – 2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
44 – Tori Waldner – 6-5 – Sr. – F/C – 4.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Off the Bench
15 – Kaliyah Mitchell – 6-2 – So. – G/F – 7.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg
41 – Jenny DeGraaf – 6-1 – So. – G/F – 4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg
25 – Peyton Whitted – 6-3 – So. – F – 4.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
11 – Alex Harris – 6-3 – So. – F – 3.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
14 – Dominique Brooks – 6-4 – Jr. – F – 1.2 ppg, 0.1 rpg
Head Coach: Coquese Washington (Notre Dame, 1992)
8th Season at PSU (145-94); 8th Season Overall (145-94)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Terran Petteway scored 18 points and Nebraska built an 11-point lead midway through the second half and held off Illinois 53-43 on Sunday night.

Nebraska (10-6, 2-2 Big Ten) made four of four free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win. The Huskers shot and made just one free throw in the first 38 minutes of the game.

Illinois (11-6, 1-3) cut the Nebraska lead to six late in the game but struggled to hit shots. The Fightin’ Illini made just 15 of 55 and didn’t have a basket after the 3:14 mark until Aaron Cosby’s short jumper with :14 left.

Nebraska took the first double-digit lead of the game on Petteway’s 3-pointer with 16:48 left that put the Huskers up 34-24 with 16:48 remaining. But Illinois’ Kendrick Nunn countered with a 3 on the Ilini’s next possession.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Rachel Theriot scored 27 points, including 10 straight as No. 19 Nebraska closed the game with a 15-4 run, to defeat Illinois 58-53 on Sunday.

The Illini (11-5, 2-2 Big Ten) were up 49-43 and looking for their second-straight win over a ranked team, when Theriot took over. She made two free throws at the 6:19 mark and when she hit a jumper with 3:06 left the Cornhuskers (12-3, 2-2) were up 53-51. Hailie Sample made a free throw, Emily Cady a jumper on a Sample assist and Brandi Jeffery made a free throw to put Nebraska up 57-51 with 14 seconds to go.

Between Amarah Coleman’s basket at 5:31 and her bucket at seven seconds, the Illini missed eight shots and had a turnover.

Coleman, a freshman, matched her career high with 18 points.

The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks to build some momentum, as the Huskers play host to Illinois at Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday evening.

Tipoff between the Huskers and Fighting Illini is set for 7:35 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call. The game is also available online and on mobile devices on BTN2Go.

The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, 1110 KFAB in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Matt Davison adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

As of Friday afternoon, only a limited number of singles were available in the 300 Level at $10 apiece and can be purchased by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED. Additional tickets may open up on game day, and the Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office opens 90 minutes before each contest.

The Huskers (9-6, 1-2 Big Ten) broke into the victory column for the first time in Big Ten play with a 65-49 win over Rutgers on Thursday. Junior guard Terran Petteway led the Huskers with 20 points and five assists for his eighth 20-point night of the season. Shavon Shields, Walter Pitchford and Benny Parker combined for 29 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in helping the Huskers snap a two-game losing streak. The Huskers were solid on the defensive end, forcing 19 turnovers and holding Rutgers to 34.7 percent shooting and their third-lowest output of the season.

Nebraska got a big boost from the return of Moses Abraham and Leslee Smith from injuries and solid play from Nick Fuller, as they helped Nebraska’s bench combine for 12 points and 12 rebounds in Thursday’s win. In all, the Huskers got nine players into the scoring column, while no player played more than 34 minutes. The Huskers will need the depth, as Sunday’s game wraps up a stretch of three games in seven days for the Big Red.

Illinois comes into the matchup with an 11-5 record following a seven-point win over No. 11 Maryland on Wednesday. Illinois is averaging 76.1 points per game and shoots 37 percent from 3-point range. The Fighting Illini are also solid at the line, where they lead the Big Ten by hitting 78 percent from the charity stripe.