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Jan. 20, 2001
GREEN BAY--Sophomore guard Jessica Wilhite scored a career-high 32 points in UWM's near miss against MCC and state rival UW-Green Bay. The Phoenix (11-5, 3-0) held off a late Panther surge to win, 67-63, Saturday night at the Phoenix Sports Center in Green Bay, Wis.
Wilhite set an MCC record by sinking 10 three-pointers, beating the previous record of nine held by UWGB's Trisha Ebel set last year. Wilhite also broke the school record of seven, recorded by Andrea Filipek in last season's game against Green Bay. Wilhite finished with 58 percent shooting from behind the arc on 10-of-17 attempts.
"She definitely was feeling it," said UWM coach Sandy Botham of Wilhite. "Nicole (Luchsinger) did a good job of penetrating and drawing the defense, and then making that extra pass to Jess. And she just kept hitting them it."
Trailing 48-60 with 5:41 remaining in the game, Wilhite's three-pointer sparked a 15-2 Panther run. Senior Nicole Luchsinger made four straight free throws and Maria Viall contributed a layup to pull within five points. Wilhite then sank two consecutive three-pointers to capture the lead at 63-62 with 1:39 to go.
Green Bay's Amanda Leonhard made a field goal on the next possession, and then made two free throws down the stretch to escape with the four-point lead at the buzzer.
"It's another barn-burner between Green Bay and Milwaukee," said Botham. "We always have these close rivalries. Unfortunately, we just didn't hit the couple of shots down the stretch."
Down by as many as 16 points in the second half, UWM ended on 18-of-59 from the field, including 12 three-pointers, for 30 percent shooting. Green Bay finished with 42 percent shooting from the field, and made 7-of-20 from the arc. The Phoenix outrebounded the Panthers, 43-34. UWM kept an even assist-turnover ratio with 13 each, while UWGB finished with 16 and 17, respectively.
The teams went at it early in the first half, exchanging the lead with every possession. UWM's 20-15 lead with nine minutes into the game came courtesy of six three-pointers and a lay-in. Wilhite's incredible hot hand gave the Panthers 15 points on 5-of-8 from behind the arc. Senior guard Teri Stoltenberg also contributed a tre, while freshman Maria Viall added a lay-up.
The Phoenix came back on a 7-0 run to take the lead, and after a few exchanges of baskets with Milwaukee, Green Bay led 33-28 at the half. Wilhite finished with 17 points in the first half, while UWM finished with 32 percent from the floor (9-of-28) and 40 percent from three-point range (6-15). The Phoenix ended the half on 38 percent from the field (13-of-34) and 33 percent from the arc (5-of-15).
The Panthers hope to bounce back from the conference lost as they travel to Illinois-Chicago on January 25. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
