Nov. 30, 2002

TEMPE, Ariz. - Jessica Wilhite scored a season-high 24 points and earned All- Tournament Team honors, but it wasn't enough as UWM fell to Arizona State, 81- 65, in the championship game of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic Saturday evening in Tempe, Ariz. The Panthers (1-3) were hampered by the loss of Maria Viall, who was saddled with foul trouble and eventually fouled out with a season-low 10 points in just 18 minutes.

Arizona State (4-0) jumped out to an early lead, leading by as many as 14 before Milwaukee started chipping away to trail by 11 at the break. Turnovers hurt the Panthers in the first half, as UWM gave the ball away 21 times in the first period. Foul trouble also contributed to the deficit, with Viall and Kimberly Becker each saddled with two fouls at the break. Viall played just five minutes in the first half before picking up her second foul. Only Wilhite's 17 points at the break kept UWM within striking distance.

Milwaukee closed the deficit to within three points with 9:59 remaining on a basket by Viall, but several key baskets by ASU's Kylan Loney and Jen Albert pushed the lead out of reach.

Wilhite nearly single-handedly kept the Panthers in the game, as she poured in another seven points in the second stanza. She would finish with 24 points to go along with six assists and a pair of rebounds. She was the only Panther named to the All-Tournament Team.

Teri Huff picked up some of the slack for the missing Viall, scoring 16 points and grabbing four rebounds. Becker chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.

The Panthers return home to face Northern Illinois on Wednesday evening at the Klotsche Center. Game time is 7 p.m.