Jan. 5, 2002
Box Score
MILWAUKEE-Maria Viall scored a game-high 17 points to lead UWM (8-5, 2-0 Horizon League) over UIC (9-6, 1-2 League), 67-62, Saturday night at the Klotsche Center. Viall also grabbed 12 rebounds to record her second straight double-double and third of the season.
Trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half, UIC made a run and pulled within three when Stesha Rhodes hit a jumper with 12 seconds remaining. UWM's Jessica Wilhite converted a pair of free throws down the stretch to regain the five-point lead at the buzzer.
"It's a big victory for us," UWM coach Sandy Botham said. "UIC made a great run at the end. They are a team that when they're hot, they're hot, and they got hot near the end. But we held them off and it was a great win."
Viall finished shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 at the line after her 22-point, 10-rebound performance Thursday night in the 90-61 win over Loyola. Her double-double tonight came as the third in the last four games, and she leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.9 ppg and 7 rpg.
"Her presence has been the big difference for this program," Botham said of Viall's consistent performances this season. "She's matured a lot since last season. She is more poised and confident, and has really worked on being a threat with both hands in scoring."
Four Flames scored in double-digits and were led by Rhodes's 14 points. Stefanie Kaufmann added 10 points for UWM, while Holly Tamm scored nine points and added a game-high six assists.
"We were biting our nails when Maria went out with foul trouble, but Stefanie really came through with her senior leadership. She wanted the ball down there (on the block), and she made it happen," Botham said.
From the start, the Panthers were able to control the athletic Flames, who were quick in transition and in penetrating to the basket. UIC shot just 36 percent in the first half to contribute to its 13-point deficit at halftime. But better shooting and a 15-7 run helped UIC close the gap in the second half. The Flames managed to cut UWM's lead to five points several times in the half, and came within three a few times down the stretch. Each time UIC made it a three-point game, Milwaukee converted at the line to put its lead back up to five.
The Panthers were perfect at the line through the first 32 minutes, converting on all 12 attempts. Viall missed out on a three-point play after scoring a layup to break UWM's streak at the charity stripe. Milwaukee finished with 87.5 percent accuracy on 21-of-24 attempts.
Tied at 14 a piece in the first half, Viall jump started a 14-0 run with two points at the foul line. The run continued when Tamm cut to the basket and scored a layup on the inbound pass from Allison Klass. Viall then scored on a three-point play, followed by Kaufmann's buried three pointer. After Viall made a turnaround jumper, reserve Christine Guiterrez drove to the basket for two more points and game UWM the 28-14 lead. UIC's LeKesha Williams sank a three pointer to stop UWM's streak with five minutes to go in the half.
Milwaukee's 36-23 advantage at halftime came on a 42.9 percent shooting performance, including 5-of-10 from the arc.
"It's great to get two wins, especially against two teams that led the league with non-conference records," Botham said of the league wins against Loyola Thursday and UIC tonight. "It's good to have those wins now since we now go on the road next week."
UWM is riding a four-game winning streak when it goes against upcoming league opponents Wright State and Butler. Milwaukee plays Wright State on Thursday night in Dayton, Ohio and then takes on Butler Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, Ind.
