Feb. 16, 2002

DETROIT, Mich. - Jessica Wilhite hit two free throws with less than a second left to lift UWM (18-6, 12-1 Horizon) over Detroit, 73-71, Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Though Wilhite scored the game-winning points, Holly Tamm took control of the Panthers in the second half and led with a career-high 27 points.

Tamm took the game into her own hands and scored UWM's next six points down the stretch, including a three-point play that tied it up at 71 a piece with 58 seconds to go. Malika Willoughby grabbed a steal to give the Panthers the ball, but a turnover gave it back to Detroit with 12 seconds left. Molly Peterman's baseline shot hit the front of the rim, and Wilhite was fouled on the offensive rebound. Wilhite calmly nailed both shots at the line with .2 seconds on the clock to win the game.

Tamm scored 17 points in the second half and finished shooting 10-of-19 from the field, including 3-of-6 three pointers. She also contributed seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Maria Viall added 14 points, while Wilhite finished with 12 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Stefanie Kaufmann scored on a couple of key follow-ups late in the game and finished with 11 points.

"I told the team that we have to focus on what we can control in this game, like intensity and defense," UWM coach Sandy Botham said. "Holly and Stef did that for us down the stretch and stayed in the moment. Holly stepped up huge, and her and Stef were our only scorers for the last seven minutes-until Jess at the end. Our leaders carried us with their mentality. They just believed and found a way to win."

Seniors Michelle James and Peterman scored 16 points each for Detroit, while Randee Henry led the team with 19. The Titans finished with 45 percent from the field, while making 19 turnovers and 14 assists. The Panthers ended with 38-percent shooting and had 15 assists and 14 turnovers. But Detroit took a 44-33 advantage on the boards.

"It's great to be in a close game and come out on the positive side," Botham said. "We showed great poise and that was one of our keys to victory. Detroit played great, and their seniors played with a lot of heart and emotion. But to be down by five points with two minutes to go--we showed great composure."

Tied at the half, UWM pulled away on a 10-0 run to led by 13 points with 14:45 to go. Detroit hung in and definitely rode the momentum on the shoulders of Michelle James, who scored four of her team's five consecutive baskets. That cut the Titans deficit to just two points with 9:36 left.

Detroit finally took over the lead with about six minutes left, and UWM tied it up twice before falling behind, 69-64, with 2:50 to go. That's when Tamm charged back for the Panthers to tie it up one final time.

The 34-34 halftime score came from an up-tempo transition game, though Detroit slowed it down near the end of the half. UWM had a lot of looks from the field, but connected on just 33 percent of its shots compared to Detroit's 51-percent shooting. The Panthers led for most of the first half, but the Titans remained within a few baskets until they hit a three pointer with thirty seconds left to take the lead by one. UWM's Kimberly Becker added a free throw down the stretch for the draw at halftime.

The Panthers play Youngstown State next Thursday in their final road game of the season, before hosting Green Bay on Saturday in the last game before the league tournament.