Feb. 15, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team started the game on a 14-0 run and never looked back in defeating Youngstown State University 74-54 in Horizon League women's basketball action here Saturday (Feb. 15). The Panthers, who never trailed in the game, won for the fifth straight time and seventh straight in league play while improving to 13-11 overall and 9-4 in the conference. Meanwhile, Youngstown State falls to 5-17 overall and 2-9 in league play.

"We are playing at the level we knew we could all season long and thats exciting as a coach," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We have been able to take every game one at a time and every win is just important as the next. I was pleased we came out with the kind of intensity we showed."

The Panthers inside-out combo of Maria Viall and Jessica Wilhite set the tone early, scoring UWM's first 19 points of the game en route to leads of 14-0 and 19-8. Viall hit five baskets from inside the paint while Wilhite drilled three trifectas in the early going. Milwaukee enjoyed at least a ten-point lead for most of the first half before YSU made a slight push.

The Penguins used a 7-0 run from 10:14 to 6:32 to cut a 13-point lead to 25-19 with 6:32 remaining on a three-point play by Jen Perugini. However, that was the closest YSU would get as UWM scored the next seven points to go up 32-19 on a pair of Nichole Drummond free throws with 5:17 to go in the half.

Milwaukee shot the ball very well in the first half, connecting on 53.6% of its shots from the field and five-of-eleven from three point land. On the other hand, the Panther defense stiffled the YSU offense, holding the visitors to 25 points on 28.5% shooting. UWM continued its dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Penguins 24-15 in the first stanza while adding 14 assists on 15 made baskets.

The second half proved to me a repeat of the first as Milwaukee scored the first eight points to take a commanding 45-25 lead with 17:46 to go. YSU scored on the ensuing possession before the Panthers pushed the lead to 23, 52-29, with 15:01 remaining to play. Youngstown got no closer than 17 points the rest of the way as the Panthers cruised to the victory.

UWM shot 48.3% for the game while holding YSU to 32.8% from the floor in addition to outrebounding the visitors 45-29. Maria Viall continued her domination of league opponents as she finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots. Jess Wilhite added 14 first half points to go with five boards and four assists and freshman Anne Witte added 13 points and two assists with no turnovers. Maggie Johnston was the only YSU player in double figures as she finished with 13 points.

Milwaukee will enjoy a week off before heading to Green Bay, Wis. for a showdown between the league's top two teams. UW-Green, the No. 21 team in the country, leads the conference with an 11-1 mark while the second place Panthers sit at 9-4. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at the Phoenix Sports Center.