March 8, 2001
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CHICAGO-Maria Viall's 21 points led the Panthers to a 58-34 victory over Wright State Thursday afternoon in the opening game of the MCC Championship at host UIC. Milwaukee (17-10) won its seventh straight game and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament.
"We are glad to get that win," said UWM coach Sandy Botham, who recently won MCC Coach of the Year honors. "We haven't won in the first round since the first year I came here." Botham's Panthers are ecstatic, having lost the past four quarterfinal games since advancing to the second round in 1996-97.
Viall was the game's only player to score in double-digits while shooting 8-of-14 from the floor. She also scored 5-of-8 from the line while adding three blocks, two steals, and four rebounds.
"There is really no one in the MCC who can guard her, so she has become our primary look," said Botham. "But getting her the ball inside also opens up everything else on the floor."
Junior reserve Allison Klaas contributed nine points, including a couple tres, and senior forward Nicole Luchsinger added eight points, including 6-of-6 from the line. Junior Stefanie Kaufmann led the game on the boards with seven rebounds.
Leading by only three points with 12:44 remaining in the game, UWM fueled an 11-0 run over a span of four minutes to keep the momentum for good.
Viall sparked UWM's attack with a layup, followed by freshman Charlene Smith's swipe on defense and made layup. Seconds later, senior Teri Stoltenberg bombed a three-pointer after UWM stopped Wright State off the inbound. Viall again provided the Panthers with a basket inside the paint, and senior Nicole Luchsinger added two at the line to put UWM out of reach, 40-26, with eight minutes left.
Milwaukee finished with 38 percent FG shooting, while Wright State shot 22 percent from the floor. Shooting 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, Wright State recorded 23 turnovers and just six assists. UWM committed 16 turnovers while tallying 12 assists. UWM took the 39-38 advantage on the boards.
After Wright State went on a 7-2 run early in the first half, but Milwaukee's Holly Tamm tied it up at 11 apiece with a pair of free throws at the 10:16 mark. The Raiders' Reggen Stewart quickly took the lead back at the line, but UWM went on a 12-3 run over the remaining 8:30 of the half. Maria Viall's 11 points helped the Panthers to take the 23-16 advantage at halftime.
UWM advances to play in the semifinals of the MCC Championship on Friday at 5 p.m. The Panthers will play the winner of the #6 Loyola-#3 Detroit game. If Milwaukee wins that game, they will play in the championship on Saturday at 5 p.m.
"We want Detroit," said Botham. "We've got incentive after losing to them in our last meeting. We improved so much since then, so we definitely want a rematch."
