CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The University of Miami used a pair of decisive scoring runs before pulling away late in handing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team a 77-38 defeat Friday afternoon at BankUnited Center.
 
The Hurricanes (6-0), receiving votes in both the AP Poll and USA TODAY Coaches Poll, remained unbeaten on the season after holding the Panthers (1-2) in check on the day.
 
"For the first two quarters, we played very well," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "Even in the third quarter, we were playing fine but we just weren't hitting shots. We didn't have costly turnovers and held them to 35 points in the first two quarters, we just shot 20 percent. Those shots come and go and we just can't let that affect how the rest of our game plan goes."
 
Sophomore Jenny Lindner finished as the team's high scorer for the day, netting 12 points as the only player in double figures. Classmate Steph Kostowicz had a tough afternoon from the floor, but added 13 rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks to her seven points on the day.
 
Cold shooting and turnovers limited Milwaukee's chances overall, hitting just 22.4 percent (13-of-58) from the floor on the day while committing 23 miscues, a total which Miami turned into a 35-to-8 advantage in points off turnovers on the day.
 
"For our younger players, we have to learn how to step up in those situations," Rechlicz said. "I thought we came in a lot more confident against FAU then we did Miami and we got a little timid. We need to understand that we are who we are … we are Milwaukee. We have to play our style of basketball and not let anybody dictate that. It was a growing game for us – it was a chance to play against a really good team and hopefully this will help us later in the season."
 
Down, 35-19, at halftime, the Panthers played well in an even third period. Miami's height down low – six players on the roster stand six feet or taller – took over down the stretch, leading to 44 points in the paint for the Hurricanes on the day. They opened the fourth quarter with another scoring run to put it away.
 
The Panthers took a quick 3-2 lead on a three-pointer by junior Alexis Lindstrom but went cold from there. Milwaukee went without a point for five-plus minutes, with the Hurricanes going on a 12-0 run to take control of the period.
 
Milwaukee opened the second with a response, netting eight of the first 10 points to pull back within eight at 21-13 on a pair of free throws by junior Sierra Ford-Washington. But, just as quickly as the Panthers were back in the game, Miami used another scoring run. This time it was 14 points in a row, regaining momentum in eventually building a 35-19 lead at the halftime horn.
 
Up next, the Panthers stay right here in Coral Gables for the "Miami Thanksgiving Classic" and return to the BankUnited Center to play La Salle tomorrow, tipping off at 12 p.m. CST.