Dec. 6, 2003

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee went on a 13-4 run to end the game but it wasn't enough as Northern Illinois University defeated the Panthers 55-53 in women's college basketball action here Saturday (Dec. 6). UWM struggled shooting all night and connected on just 28.8% of its shots in falling to 3-4 on the season. With the win, the homestanding Huskies improve to 3-2.

"Northern Illinois executed its game plan and really took us out of our rhythm," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "They really doubled down on Maria Viall and we just didn't have some of the other players step up."

NIU controlled the game early on, scoring eight of the first ten points in the games first 2:46. Linsday Secrest scored five of the first five points for NIU to give them the early advantage. Milwaukee battle back, however, and went ahead for the first time, 20-17, on a Viall three-point play with 7:28 remaining. However, the Panther offense went cold the remainder of the half, connecting on just two field goals while the Huskies finished the half on a 19-7 run.

The three-point shot helped Northern Illinois to begin the second half, as a Secrest triple and two Stephanie Smith trifectas gave the Huskies a 38-30 cushion with 17:02 to go in the game. A Kimberly Becker three-point play cut the lead to five, on the next possession, before NIU scored the next four points to go ahead 42-33.

Northern Illinois appeared to be en route to an easy double figure win midway through the frame as UWM really struggled to connect from the field. Milwaukee finally made a late push in the last four minutes when Kiley Johnson drilled the team's first three-pointer after missing its first 15. Johnson, who scored six points in the last 3:24, led a surge that cut the lead to five, 55-51, with 0:19 remaining. After a foul and a Secrest missed free throw UWM got within two on a Nichole Drummond rebound bucket but NIU was able to inbound the ball and run out the clock to end the game.

"I never really felt out of it and I was just waiting for us to make a run," Botham said. "But we just couldn't generate anything offensively and we couldn't make any outside shots. We are going to see teams double and triple team Maria and we need some of the other players looking to score more."

Viall led UWM with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Joi Scott paced the Huskies with 16 points and eight boards. Milwaukee will look to get back to the .500 mark on Thursday (Dec. 11) when it travels to New Hampshire to face the University of New Hampshire. Gametime is set for 6:00 p.m. in Durham.