Nov. 10, 2001

MILWAUKEE - Jessica Wilhite scored a game-high 26 points and UWM's defense forced 32 turnovers as the Panthers recorded an easy 102-57 win over LKKA Kaunas (Lithuania) in an exhibition game Saturday at the Klotsche Center.

Holly Tamm added 18 points and Maria Viall 17 for the Panthers, who played for the first time since their NCAA Tournament appearance last year.

UWM dominated most of the game and in most statistical categories. The Panthers limited LKKA Kaunas to just 41 percent shooting from the field and UWM outrebounded LKKA 46-23, including 19-4 on the offensive glass.

"We've talked about team defense being the number one key to victory," head coach Sandy Botham said. "We started putting on some full-court pressure and started to wear them out."

The Panthers trailed 11-7 three minutes into the game but responded with a 20-0 run over the next seven minutes to gain control of the contest. The lead eventually grew to 21 on a Christine Gutierrez three-point shot that made it a 37-16 game, and LKKA would get no closer than 13 points the rest of the first half.

Any thoughts of a comeback by the visitors were quickly extinguished early in the second half, as UWM scored 20 of the first 23 points of the half to build a 67-30 advantage. The Panthers hit 100 points on a driving layup by freshman Kimberly Becker and UWM led by as many as 51 in cruising to the win.

"We got caught a little bit early on with some back screens, but we adjusted well and recovered," Botham said.

All 14 players dressed for the Panthers played and 12 Panthers scored in the contest, giving the six Panther newcomers valuable early-season experience.

"I felt like they all played their roles pretty well and contributed what we need them to contribute," Botham said.

The Panthers open the regular season Nov. 16 at Northern Illinois and UWM starts its home schedule Nov. 19 against Illinois State.