Jan. 22, 2000

MILWAUKEE -The UW-Milwaukee Panthers women's basketball team defeated inter-state rival UW-Green Bay, 79-72, at the Klotsche Center Saturday.

Aggressive defense and superb three-point shooting, helped the Panthers hand the Phoenix their first conference loss of the season.

The Panthers led by three at the half and stretched out the lead in the second half to as many as 14 with eight minutes remaining in the game. But when the Phoenix fought back to close the lead to as few as three points, the Panthers fought back from the free-throw line. UWM scored their last 10 points of the game from the line.

UWM's offense was carried on the broad shoulders of freshman guard Jessica Wilhite, who hit 5-8 from behind the three-point arc to give her a career high of 22 points.

"The three-pointers were huge for us, and our free throws were clutch down the stretch," said Panther coach Sandy Botham.

Sophomore Corrin Von Wald followed up her record-setting game against Valparaiso, in which she shot 18 of 18 from the charity stripe, with a 12 of 14 night at the line against Green Bay to give her 18 total points.

"Today we just couldn't look at the scoreboard, we just had to play the game," said Botham. "When we were up by eight, we had to say we were down by eight."

Junior forward Nicole Luchsinger chipped in with 10 points and a career high 6 assists.

For the Phoenix, five players scored in double-figures, including 14 from Amanda Leonhard and 13 points each from Erika Schoeneberger and Stacy Krueger.

UWM brings its conference record to 2-1 and its overall record to 7-8.

UW-Milwaukee faces off against Chicago State on the road Tuesday, January 25.