Nov. 11, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Maria Viall scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 56-44 exhibition victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside here Tuesday (Nov. 11). In a sloppy game marred with turnovers and poor shooting, the Panthers were able to hold off a pesky UWP team in the second half. UWM hit 10-of-11 free throws down the stretch to claim its first exhibition win in two seasons.

"Well, this is why they are called exhibition games," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "It's always nice to get a win and we got to see some different combinations and get some game action under our belt."

Milwaukee went on a 12-0 run in the games first six minutes after falling behind 2-0 to begin the game. Five different players scored in the run for UWM which was capped off by a Kimberly Becker layup at the 13:59 mark. Parkside scored six of the next eight points to cut the lead to 16-10 at the 9:50 mark on a Sammy Kromm jumper. The two teams traded buckets for the remainder of the half before a Molly O'Brien breakaway layup gave the Panthers a 31-22 halftime lead.

The Panthers shot 52% from the floor in the first half while holding the visitors to 35.7% shooting. UWM had balanced scoring in the first half as Viall led the way with eight points while Becker, Drummond, and O'Brien added six each. Carrie Schieve led UWP with 10 first half points thanks to two, three-point field goals.

UWM appeared to take control of the game early in the second half by scoring nine of the first 11 points. A Viall layup gave UWM a 36-24 lead at the 17:10 mark before Kiley Johnson's three-pointer pushed the lead to fifteen, 39-24, with 15:45 remaining. However, the Panthers went cold from the floor the remainder of the half with the Rangers continually cut into the lead.

A Becker jumper at the 11:19 mark pushed the Panther lead back to fifteen at 45-30 before the Rangers ran off seven straight points. Becker's jumper proved to be the last field goal of the game for the Panthers who scored their last 11 points from the free throw line. UW-Parkside had one last push and cut the lead to six, 47-41, on a Kromm layup but two free throws each by Viall and Johnson and one by Aubrey Hampton gave the Panthers a lead they would not relinquish.

In addition to Viall's "double-double" Becker added 10 points and seven boards while Drummond added eight points and eight rebounds. Kromm led UWP with 20 points while Schieve finished with 18.

Milwaukee will finish the exhibition season Sunday (Nov. 16) when the Wisconsin AAU team comes to town for a 2 p.m. game. The AAU squad features former professional star Nancy Lieberman and current WNBA standout Anna DeForge.