Feb. 6, 2003

Box Score

DETROIT - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee placed five players in double figures in cruising to a 76-61 victory over the University of Detroit in Horizon League women's basketball action here Thursday (Feb. 6). The win pushed UWM into a second-place tie in the league with a 10-11 overall record and 6-4 mark in league play. With the loss, Detroit falls to 7-13 overall and 5-4 in the league.

UWM fell behind early, 13-7, before a convincing 15-0 run midway through the first half catapulted the Panthers to a 22-13 lead with 5:58 left in the first half. Detroit kept the lead between five and nine points the remainder of the first half before going into the lockerroom down seven, 35-28. The Panthers connected on 46.4% from the field in the first half and hit all seven of their free throws while holding UDM to 38.7% shooting.

Detroit's Caitie Goddard scored the first bucket of the second half to to cut the lead to five, 35-30, before back-to-back three pointers by Anne Witte and Jessica Wilhite made it 41-30 with 18:07y left in the game. Milwaukee extended the lead to 50-34 with 14:51 remaining when Molly O'Brien connected on two free throws.

UWM continued to push, and took its biggest lead of the game, 57-39 after another Witte trifecta and two Kimberly Becker charity tosses. UDM made a mild threat late in the game thanks to a full court press but could get no closer than 11 the remainder of the game. The Panthers sealed the game at the free throw line and ended the game 21-of-23 from the stripe after connecting on their first 20 freebees.

The Panthers shot 52.2% in the second half to finish the game at 49.0% while holding the Titans to 33.3% for the game. Milwaukee outrebounded UDM 42-31 on the evening and while continuing to lead the league in rebound margin.

Wilhite paced the balanced attack with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Maria Viall added 13 and nine. Witte finished with 11 points including three trilighters with Kimberly Becker and Nichole Drummond adding 10 points apiece. Sara Crum was the only Titan to hit double digits as she finished with 16 markers.

UWM will look for its fifth straight Horizon League win when it travels to Cleveland State University on Saturday (Feb. 8). The Milwaukee-CSU showdown is set to begin at 12 P.M. CST.