MILWAUKEE - The first two seasons of the Sandy Botham era at UWM have been nothing short of exciting. Two back-to-back winning seasons, a UWM player named MCC Player of the Year and another one named MCC Newcomer of the Year, the program's first-ever MCC Tournament win and a victory over a top-20 team are some of the highlights of the past couple of seasons.

While those are significant achievements, the Panthers have an even larger goal for this season: an NCAA Tournament appearance. "We've had two good years of learning experience and have taken steps to improve each year," said Botham, who led her team to a 15-12 record in 1997-98. "Having brought in two talented recruiting classes, I think we have all of the important pieces in place to compete for an MCC championship this year. We have a great nucleus and solid depth."

After losing only two players to graduation from last year's team, the bulk of the Panthers' lineup returns this season, including leading scorer Daryl Schaffeld (15.6 ppg, All-MCC first team) and point guard Teri Stoltenberg (8.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, MCC all-newcomer team). Also, three seniors return guards Latasha Love and Sarah Martysz and forward Amy Wardle. Added to the mix from last season will be four freshmen, two of who were redshirted last season.

The increased depth this season should make UWM even better. Last season, Schaffeld and Stoltenberg each averaged more than 32 minutes a game. "Last year our lack of depth got the best of us," Botham said. "With some injuries, we lost significant quality minutes off the bench. Our starters were forced to carry much of the load. By the tournament, we just ran out of gas."

Motivation is another of UWM's assets. After reaching the MCC Tournament semifinals in 1997, the Panthers were bounced from the quarterfinals of the 1998 tournament.

"Everyone has extra motivation this year after getting beat by Detroit in the first round," Botham said. "We have improved a lot during spring. They were very disappointed with the early exit, and they dedicated themselves to improving as individual players and as a team. This spring was proof of that."

By the time the MCC Tournament rolls around, the Panthers should be prepared, having played a grueling non-conference slate. Five non-conference opponents on the schedule were NCAA Tournament participants last season: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado State, Drake, Marquette and UWGB.

"We have a challenging non-conference schedule, and that's the way we want it," said Botham, who won MCC Coach of the Year honors in 1997 after her first season with the Panthers. "Competing against teams with tournament experience prepares our kids and gives them added confidence going into the conference season and the MCC tournament."

Here is a look at the Panthers, broken down by perimeter players and post players:

Perimeter

Two starting guards from Botham's three-guard offense return this year Teri Stoltenberg (Green Bay, WI-Pulaski) and Daryl Schaffeld (Palatine, IL-Fremd).

Schaffeld, now a junior, was a three-time MCC Player of the Week and ranked in the top five of the league in scoring, free throw percentage, three pointers made and three-point percentage last year. She posted her first career double-double as a sophomore and has already broken into UWM's top 25 for career scoring (759 points).

"There are lots of expectations for her," Botham said. "But some of the pressure will be taken off her because of our increased depth. We will have more of a scorer's mentality at all positions, so if opponents key on Daryl, I'm confident someone else will step up and score."

Stoltenberg assumed point guard duties last season as a freshman and impressed throughout the year. Her 11 assists against Wright State at the Klotsche Center last year marked the second-best output by a Panther in school history. The MCC all-newcomer selection ranked among league leaders in three-point field goal percentage (second, .387), assists (third, 3.9 apg), assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth, 1.01) and three-pointers made (sixth, 1.52).

"What she was able to do as a freshman was very valuable for us," Botham said. "We're counting on her leadership again at the point. She has the best court vision on the team. She understands the game and knows what we're thinking; she has a coach's mentality. We're looking for her to score more as a sophomore."

Senior Sarah Martysz (Marquette, MI-Marquette) connected on 39 percent of her three pointers last season and scored a season-high seven points against Nebraska, but saw her playing time limited by injury. "She was giving us quality minutes until the injury set her back," Botham said. "She has one of the strongest handles on the team and is the best pure shooter we've got."

Senior Latasha Love (Joliet, IL-Joliet) provided a spark off the bench last season. Love had her best season as a junior, when she set career highs in points, rebounds, steals and assists. "She made unbelievable improvements in terms of her skill and maturity last year," Botham said. "We count on her for her defensive intensity and abilities to go strong to the basket. But, more importantly, we count on her for the heart and energy she provides day in and day out."

Angie Dalton (Sun Prairie, WI-Sun Prairie), a junior, has provided quality depth at the point and off-guard positions throughout her first two seasons. "Angie is one of the hardest workers on the team," Botham said. "She comes in every day and gives so much. She compliments a lot of our players. She is a good defender and can push the ball."

Post

After playing on the perimeter in her first two seasons, Amy Wardle (Clarendon HIlls, IL-Hinsdale Central) moved to the post for her junior campaign, a change that saw her inserted into the starting line up and put up career bests in scoring (6.1 ppg) and rebounding (3.7 rpg). But Wardle also utilized perimeter skills by shooting a team-best .397 (25-63) from behind the three-point arc.

"Amy has become real versatile for us," Botham said. "Her strength is her shot, but she has become more confident going to the basket and being active on the boards."

Kelly Lubbers (Chanhassen, MN-Chaska) was impressive as the backup center last year. Lubbers averaged 4.9 points and 2.1 rebounds a game playing behind second-team All-MCC selection Trina Rathke. Now that Rathke's eligibility has expired, Botham hopes that Lubbers will put in more performances like the ones during a three-game stretch near the end of last season when she averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.

"Kelly became a force for us at the end of the year," Botham said of the junior. "The expectations of her are to do just as much on the block, if not more. She has tremendous athleticism and has the ability to outrun and outjump anyone she competes with. We want her to come in and take over where Trina left off last year."

The coaching staff also has high expectations of sophomore Janelle Jonason (Brooklyn Park, MN-Park Center), who showed marked improvements early in the season and worked her way into the starting lineup. But a stress fracture in her foot limited her performance during the rest of the year.

"She was making huge strides until she got hurt," Botham said. "She's a great athlete. She has the ability to create a lot of havoc on the floor, offensively and defensively."

Sophomore Nicole Luchsinger (Janesville, WI-Parker) showed several positives on the court last year despite her limited playing time. In back-to-back games, she posted double-digit rebounding efforts. "Nicole is steady and consistent. You know what you are going to get with her," Botham said. "Her size (5-10) makes her a 'tweener', but she's the kind of player you like to have on the floor because of her intelligent decisions."

Freshmen

Although UWM has four freshmen on the roster, two of them, Andrea Filipek (Cicero, IL-Morton West) and Betsy Brawner (Pulaski, WI-Pulaski) had the benefit of sitting out a season and learning the system. "We had high hopes for Andrea when she signed but because of injury, we couldn't use her," said Botham. "She worked hard this past year and is back to form. She is an offensive machine, with a great jumpshot and the ability to penetrate.

"The work Betsy put in this past year made her so much stronger, both physically and mentally. Her goal is to be the No. 1 shot-blocker in the MCC. If she doesn't get a piece of shots, she'll alter them. On offense, she has tremendous touch around the basket."

The two true freshmen, Corrin Von Wald (Hudson, WI-Hudson) and Stefanie Kaufmann (Ottawa, IL-Marquette), should contribute right away, according to Botham. "Corrin is versatile; she can play the one-, two-, or three-guard position. She is fluid with the ball and can go left or right. She came from a program with tremendous success. She is ready to play. She has the physical tools.

"Stefanie will play the four for us. She can shoot and excels at attacking the basket. She plays in one speed: hard. She can rebound and is a physical player with a gutsy mentality. She won't back down from anyone."

With so many quality components, Botham looks forward to big things this season. "The foundation has been laid and the pieces of the puzzle are in place," Botham said. "Now is the time to take the next step and mean business. We're looking forward to a good year."