Jan. 2, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The University of Detroit-Mercy outscored the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 10-1 in overtime en route to a 66-57 win in Horizon League women's basketball action here Thursday (Jan. 2). With the victory Detroit improves to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in the Horizon League while UWM falls to 4-8 and 0-2 in league play.

"It's just disappointing to lose like this," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "I thought we really played hard tonight and with more urgency ang aggressiveness. I guess we just need to keep working and hopefully things will get better."

Milwaukee led for the majority of the first half as Detroit's last lead, 7-6, came at the 16:47 mark of the frame. Seven different players scored for Milwaukee in the first half on the way to a 33-27 halftime bulge. Reserve guard Kerri St. Aubin gave the Panthers the six-point lead with her first career three-pointer as the first half buzzer sounded. UWM was previously 3-0 this season when leading at the half.

The Titans marched out of the second half lockerroom and took control of the game less than five minutes in the second stanza. UDM scored nine of the first eleven points in the second half to grab the lead back, 36-35, with 15:50 left in regulation. A Maria Viall jumper tied the game at 39 with 14:05 remaining but Detroit went back ahead for the next eleven-plus minutes.

UWM made a push late in the second half and grabbed a three-point lead, 54-51, with just 1:58 remaining. Freshman Anne Witte keyed the Panther run as she connected on a three-pointer and two free throws to give Milwaukee the three-point lead. Detroit scored the next two buckets to jump ahead 55-54 before Teri Huff connected on a 15-footer to give UWM the 56-55 lead. UDM's Nicole Anaejionu made one of two free throws to tie the game at 56 with 19 seconds left. Viall's 12-foot fallaway jumper bounced off the rim as time expired and the two teams headed to overtime.

Detroit controlled the overtime session from the opening tip to win the game going away. The Titans hit two field goals and six charity tosses in the extra frame while holding UWM to 0-7 shooting and 1-3 shooting from the free throw line.

The loss was just the second in the last 22 Horizon League home games for UWM but the second in succession. Milwaukee has now dropped two consecutive games for the third time this season and two straight conference games for the first time since Jan. 9th, 1999.

Witte led UWM with 11 points while Huff posted her first career "double-double" with 10 points and 10 boards. Detroit held Viall, Milwaukee's leading scorer, to nine points but the junior did grab a career-best 18 rebounds. Sara Crum led four UDM players in double figures with 16 points while Anaejionu added 15 points and eight caroms.

"I thought Detroit played well and they did a great job on Maria," Botham added. "They gave us different looks and they doubled and tripled her a lot. We just need players to step up and make some shots."

Milwaukee will look to right the ship Saturday (Jan. 4) when the Vikings of Cleveland State University come to town. CSU is currently 1-8 on the year and 0-1 in conference play. Gametime is set for 2 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.