Dec. 16, 2001
MILWAUKEE - UWM allowed a 17-point first half lead slip away as the Wisconsin AAU won in exhibition, 82-79, Sunday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.
Stefanie Kaufmann recorded a double double to lead UWM, pouring in 16 points and 14 rebounds while former Racine Park and New Mexico star Abby Garchek scored a game-high 22 points for the Viking Club.
"We are in a little bit of a slump right now," UWM coach Sandy Botham said. "The challenges we have faced in the non-conference have affected us. Our confidence is definitely down, and we just don't have that moxie or swagger we had in the beginning. That's the danger of playing such tough teams."
After shooting 34.3 percent from the floor in the first half, Wisconsin AAU turned around to connect on 63 percent in the second half, including 6-of-10 three pointers. UWM shot 40 percent overall, but made just 11-of-22 from the free throw line.
"They knocked down some big shots. They are all college stars, and they really hit good shots down the stretch," Botham said of the Viking Club, which consists of former Wisconsin high school and college players
Tied at 70 apiece following a three pointer by Kaufmann with 2:40 to go, the AAU scored the next baskets and grabbed the lead for good. UWM trailed by two points with a Jessica Wilhite field goal, but former Kansas player Angie Halbeib nailed a three with forty seconds left to carry a three-point lead for the remainder of the game. Both teams swapped free throws and a basket down the stretch.
UWM led 31-14 with nine minutes left in the first half, but AAU cut it to a four-point deficit at half time. The Viking Club took over early in the second half when former Badger Kelly Paulus laid it in off the glass to go up, 45-43. The lead changed a few times after that until UWM fell to a six-point deficit following back-to-back three pointers by Garchek and a jumper by Sarah Schuetz with 3:29 to go in the game.
UWM tied it up with consecutive treys by Wilhite and Kaufmann, but fell back to four points with field goals by Garchek and Anna DeForge at 74-70.
Wilhite finished with 15 points for UWM, while Holly Tamm contributed 13 points and nine assists. Maria Viall added 12 points to round out UWM's double-digit scoring. DeForge, a former Nebraska star who played in the WNBA this past summer, added 17 points for the AAU and was followed by Schuetz with 15 and Halbeib with 13. Schuetz also had a double double, recording 12 rebounds.
The AAU outrebounded the Panthers, 42-39. Milwaukee made 23 assists and only 13 turnovers while Wisconsin AAU made 18 assists and 19 turnovers.
"It's early and at least we are going through it now so that we can learn from it and adjust," Botham said. "It's just going to make us stronger and hungrier. Our kids just have to become fighters again."
The Panthers will take time off of competition over the holidays and get back to action on Dec. 28th. UWM hosts Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.
