Jan. 24, 2004

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - Butler University outscored the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 16-10 in overtime to claim a 67-61 win in Horizon League women's basketball action here Saturday (Jan. 24). UWM sent the game into overtime on a Megan Rogers driving layup with 1:18 left to play in regulation. Both teams had three more possessions to win the game in regulation but could not convert. Butler improves to 7-11 overall and 3-4 in the league while Milwaukee falls to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in conference action.

Things wen't poorly for the visiting Panthers in the first half as Butler took an eight-point lead into the break. BU forced 13 turnovers in the first half while hitting on 43.3% of its shots. Conversely, Milwaukee connected on just 28.6% from the field in the stanza. Milwaukee did outrebound the Bulldogs 25-13 in the frame but only converted on four of its 12 offensive rebounds.

Milwaukee scored the first seven points of the second-half and a Maria Viall three-point play capped the run to quickly cut the Butler lead to one, 32-31, with 17:51 to play. The Panthers continued to battle on the road and grabbed what turned out to be their first and only lead, 35-34, on a Nichole Drummond jumpshot with 14:28 on the clock.

The game seesawed the remainder of the way before BU appeared to take control late. Freshman Jackie Closser, who led all players with 20 points, drilled her fourth three-pointer of the game to give the Bulldogs a 47-42 cushion with 3:14 remaining.

UWM made one last surge, led by an unlikely pair of players. Reserve point guard Kerri St. Aubin cut the lead to three, 47-44, with a layup at the 3:02 mark. After a Butler basket made it a five-point game, freshman Megan Rogers drilled her first three-pointer of the year from the top of the key. After a defensive stop, Viall scored of a Roger's assist to tie the game again. Nancy Bowden scored on the next possession for the two point lead only to see Roger's lefthanded driving layup tie the game and eventually send it to overtime.

In overtime Butler took control, scoring the first five points on a Dionne Goodwin layup and a Closser three-ball. Milwaukee was able to cut the gap to four, 62-58, on a long-range Witte three but the visitors could get no closer the rest of the way.

The Panthers committed 27 turnovers on the game while shooting just 36.7% from the floor. Meanwhile, Butler hit on 40.0% of its shots and grabbed 18 steals wile committing just 12 turnovers. UWM did dominate on the glass, however, outrebounding BU 52-29 on the day. Viall was the only Panther to reach double figures as she finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

There will be very little rest for Panthers as they will head north to face long-time Horizon League rival UW-Green Bay on Monday (Jan. 26). Gametime is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Phoenix Sports Center on the UWGB complex.