CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Four players scored in double figures and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team held La Salle University without a point over the final five minutes in earning a 69-53 victory Saturday afternoon at the BankUnited Center.
 
The Panthers (2-2) raced out to a 17-point lead in the first half, only to see the Explorers (0-5) get back in the game after Milwaukee experienced foul trouble and injury. The defense buckled down most when needed, forcing misses on La Salle's final nine shots over the final 4:46 of the game to close out the "Miami Thanksgiving Classic" with the victory.
 
"It was nice to see that our team can have a quick turnaround," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "Sometimes, you worry with a young team on how they are going to respond to such a poor game the night before. Are they going to carry that over? And we didn't. We were sharp. We were focused and we had a lot of positive energy."
 
Sophomore Jenny Lindner led the way, posting her fifth career double-double with 20 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.
 
"She's not used to playing the four for us at all, so the fact that we have been putting her in the post and she has been able to adapt to that has really helped our team because it really stretches out the defense," Rechlicz said. "She's playing with so much heart right now. She really wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win."
 
Junior Alexis Lindstrom sank five three-pointers on her way to a season-high 17 points and sophomore Kelsey Cunningham produced 10 points and a career-high eight rebounds in her first start of the season.
 
"It's all about ball movement," Rechlicz said. "Alexis doesn't get those shots if we don't find her. I commend our point guards."
 
Junior Sierra Ford-Washington was the fourth UWM player in double figures, netting 12 points and collecting 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her Milwaukee career.
 
Micahya Owens was the only La Salle player in double figures, finishing with 15 as the Panthers held their opponents to 28.1 percent (18-of-64) shooting on the day from the floor.
 
It began with a quick start. Down, 3-0, UWM sank the next four field goals – all on 3's and three of them by Lindstrom – to grab the 12-5 advantage and never look back.
 
The lead grew to double-digits at 15-5 on a Lindner layup at the midway point of the first quarter and was as high as 12 in the frame.
 
"I think we started off really strong and that goes to the youth of our program," Rechlicz said. "If we are hitting shots then we play better. If not, then we struggle a little bit. It was just a great all-around game. I thought we battled through some adversity and came back strong."
 
La Salle made a dent to start the second, but the Panthers pushed back again, scoring 11 points in a row to lead by as many as 17 at 33-16 with six-plus minutes left before intermission.
 
Milwaukee lost sophomore Steph Kostowicz in the second quarter when she got poked in the eye and foul trouble became an issue late in the third. The Explorers slowly crept back into the contest and were within six late in the third when Lindstrom nailed a three to push it back to nine at 51-42. Two Ford-Washington free throws extended the advantage back to double-figures to open the final frame.
 
The Panthers maintained control down the stretch, using that strong defensive effort to close out the win. They dominated the boards on the day to the tune of 53-to-36, with five different players accounting for at least five boards each. The team also sank a season-best eight three-pointers and had 15 assists on 23 made field goals, with senior Sydney Howard dishing out a team-high six helpers with just one turnover.
 
Up next, the team returns home and will be back on the court December 3. That day, the squad will be game one of women's/men's doubleheader down at UWM Panther Arena. Tip off time against Northern Illinois is set for 3 p.m.