Nov. 9, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Tari Boutin had 15 kills to lead UWM to a 30-23, 30-19, 30-28 non-conference win over IPFW Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (16-12) recovered from a loss to UW-Green Bay Friday night by limiting the Mastadons (12-17) to a .060 hitting percentage and recording 11 blocks.

Sarah Potts added eight kills and 14 digs, while Karen Fruit had seven kills and seven blocks and Larissa Cattanach had six kills and four blocks.

Fabiana Souza had 14 kills to lead IPFW.

"It was certainly was nice to get the win after last night. Tari really came to play," UWM head coach Kathy Litzau said. "As a team, though, I didn't feel like we were on a mission or that we were going to fight hard. Fort Wayne really handed us the match.

"Sometimes you need a weekend like this to understand the intensity that you need," Litzau said. "We need to be better next week."

The Panthers jumped to an early lead in the first game, scoring 13 of the first 16 points of the game. The lead was still 18-8 before IPFW rallied to within 18-14 by scoring six-straight points. But the Panthers never let the Mastadons get closer than three points, and UWM put the game away down the stretch. The lead hit 27-22 on a kill by Boutin and the Panthers closed out the game on a kill by Cattanach.

UWM took control of game two with a late run. The Panthers' lead was just 17-13 following a service error, but UWM scored 11 of the next 13 points to seize the game. Boutin had two kills during the run, which also included six IPFW errors. The Panthers then closed out the game on a kill by Fruit.

In game three the Panthers had to dig out of a big hole to wrap up the match. IPFW jumped to an 11-6 lead and pushed the edge to 18-11 following a UWM service error. But the Panthers rallied from there, scoring 10-straight points to grab a 21-18 advantage. The run, which came off the service of Cattanach, included two kills apiece by Boutin and Fruit. IPFW tied the match at 21, 23 and 24 and was again within 29-28 on a kill by Souza. But UWM closed out the game and the match on a kill by Boutin.

UWM returns to action next Friday, hosting UIC in a 7 p.m. contest. The regular season then concludes Saturday at 4 p.m. when Loyola comes to the Klotsche Center in a match that should decide the Horizon League regular season championship.