Feb. 23, 2002

MILWAUKEE-The UWM women's basketball dropped the regular-season title to Green Bay, 88-66, Saturday afternoon in front of a record crowd of 4,137 at the Klotsche Center. The instate rivals were tied for first place in the league entering the game, but the Phoenix controlled the entire game and handed UWM its first loss at home in league play since 1999.

Turnovers and fouls hurt the Panthers, making the difference in the game since both teams show well from the field on 54.7 percent. UWM committed 21 turnovers while Green Bay stayed clean with 22 assists and just 12 turnovers. The Phoenix came up big at the line to make 18-of-21 free throws, while Milwaukee recorded a season low 1-of-5 from the line.

"We laid an egg," UWM coach Sandy Botham said. "It came to be a mental game and Green Bay came in so well prepared. When things weren't going well, we just lost it mentally. Then our team started playing just not lose. I also feel that that we never had five players focused at the same time on the court, where as I thought Green Bay was just so prepared and focused."

Though Green Bay had an eight-point edge at halftime, the Panthers still were enough into the game to make a small come back and possibly take over. But the Phoenix opened with six straight points to put them up, 46-32 early in the second half. The teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes, but a three pointer by Boyer extended Green Bay's lead to 20 points with 13:10 remaining.

Just seconds before Boyer scored, UWM guard Holly Tamm fell to the floor after colliding with a Green Bay player. She was taken to the hospital for x-rays, and will have surgery tomorrow morning on a break to her left wrist. Tamm finished with 10 points in 25 minutes of action.

Meanwhile, the three pointers kept falling for the Phoenix to keep them out of reach, as they made eight in the second half to finish with 12 threes overall. Boyer nailed a career-high six three pointers, and led the Phoenix with 24 points. Green Bay's entire starting lineup scored in double digits, including a double-double from forward Kristy Loiselle (15 points and 11 assists).

"Both teams were competitive and I think both were ready for the game," Green Bay coach Kevin Borseth said. "But I thought we executed very well. It kind of snowballed-it seemed that everytime they made a mistake, we then made the shot. If we made a mistake, it seemed they missed a shot."

Maria Viall led Milwaukee with 23 points on 11-of-15 field goals, and now holds the UWM record for most field goals in a season with 184. Senior guard Allison Klaas played huge for the Panthers off the bench, scoring a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-6 three pointers.

Jessica Wilhite was held to seven points for UWM by Green Bay's coverage. Wilhite has recorded her biggest games against the Phoenix, including last season's 36-point performance in the tournament championship. She also hit a school and league-record 10 three pointers at Green Bay during the regular season.

"She's really hurt us in the past, so we put a good deal of pressure on her. We made it tough for her to get shots off," Borseth said.

Wilhite and the Panthers might get a chance to get back at Green Bay next week in the Horizon League Tournament. Loyola hosts the tournament, with the quarterfinals starting Thursday. Semifinals will be held Friday night, and the championship will be played Sunday. Times are yet to be determined.