MILWAUKEE - Senior Ashley Green poured in 31 points and junior Jordyn Swan netted a career-high 19 to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 90-79 victory over Valparaiso University Wednesday evening at the Klotsche Center.
 
The Panthers (6-11, 2-3 Horizon League) used a 21-3 scoring run stretching between halves to take the lead against the Crusaders (4-14, 0-5 Horizon League) and were in control down the stretch, answering each run in finishing with a season-high 90 points on the day to earn the victory.
 
"Valpo is much better than their record shows. They have some incredible post players and when their guards are on, it makes them a very tough team to beat," UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "I credit the win to our captains for their leadership and also give a lot of credit to us for executing our offense, which was a huge focus for us coming into this week."
 
Green just missed a double-double with nine rebounds and added a season-high five steals, scoring 30-plus points for the fifth time in her career.
 
"I think she was back to her old self from the beginning of the season," Rechlicz said. "We watched some of her clips from the first few games that we put together. We talked a lot about just playing and not thinking the game. When she just plays and gets in that flow, she is very tough to stop and she proved that tonight."
 
Swan eclipsed her former career best of 16, getting to 19 on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor while adding an 11-of-13 effort from the free throw line. She grabbed seven big rebounds and did it all in just 15 minutes of game action.
 
"More than one point-per-minute is pretty impressive and she was huge for us," Rechlicz said. "Even her toughness in the post on defense. She's a 5-11 post player and she was going against some of the better posts in the conference and battling every single possession. Then to hit free throws down the stretch for us was really key."
 
Freshman Jenny Lindner was in double-figures with 14 and junior Jaleesa Armstrong was as well with 11. Milwaukee also shot a season-high 53 percent (27-of-59) from the floor and out-rebounded Valparaiso, 41-30.
 
Dani Franklin paced Valpo with 22 points. Jessica Carr (13 points/11 assists) and Jasmyn Walker (10 points/11 rebounds) added double-doubles in the loss.
 
UWM committed just 12 turnovers and pushed the ball all night, ending with a substantial 19-2 difference in fastbreak points to go along with its 34-18 advantage in the paint.
 
"We pushed and that was something that we talked about a lot," Rechlicz said. "We always say 'trust each other'. If you're tired, we'll get you a sub and get someone else in who will run equally as hard until they need a sub."
 
Six straight points to open the second half capped that 21-3 spree and gave the Panthers a 49-39 lead. Valpo wasn't done, however, using an 8-2 spurt to get to 51-47 before eventually tying the game at 60-60 on a jumper with 9:02 to play.
 
Milwaukee bent but did not break, answering back with seven points in a row as part of a 10-1 run, capped by a three by senior Macie Dorow that made it 70-61 at the 6:44 mark. Valpo whittled it back down to five in the final minute, but Swan went 4-for-4 from the line in the final 30 seconds to ice it.
 
Milwaukee shot over 75 percent early, yet found itself trailing, 25-20, after Valparaiso went on an early-game shooting spree from three-point range.
 
The Panthers continued to bury shots and used an 8-0 spurt to take the lead, going ahead on a three by Lindner with 10:17 remaining and extending the lead to 28-25 on a fastbreak layup by junior Sydney Howard.
 
From there, the Panthers fortunes turned and went cold. They were stuck on 28 for over four minutes, with the Crusaders continuing to hit from long range (7-of-12 in the first half) in eventually building an eight-point advantage with 11 in a row at 36-28 with just over five minutes to play.
 
The theme of the night continued. Just like that, UWM could not miss once again, closing the half on a huge run that included nine points from Green. A three at the buzzer by Valpo snapped the streak at 15 points in a row and made the score 43-39 heading into the locker room. UWM shot 60 percent (18-of-30) in the first 20 minutes.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home and welcome the UIC Flames Saturday to the Klotsche Center for a 2 p.m. tip. The contest is also "Girl Scout Day" for Milwaukee fans.