Jan. 26, 2004

Box Score

GREEN BAY, WIS. - The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay took a 14-point lead into halftime and cruised the remainder of the way en route to a 72-52 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Horizon League women's basketball action here Monday (Jan. 26). The Phoenix improve to 12-6 overall and 6-2 in league play while extending its Horizon League home winning streak to 43 games. With the loss, UWM drops its second straight in falling to 7-10 overall and 4-3 in the loop.

The Panthers enjoyed just one lead in the game, 3-2, when Kimberly Becker drilled the third three-pointer of her career at the 17:47 mark. Green Bay ran ahead 10-3 at the 14:07 mark before a Maria Viall jumper made it 10-5. The two teams traded buckets over the next few minutes before another Viall layup brought UWM to six, 19-13, at the 9:05 mark. Milwaukee made one last push of the first half when a Becker jumpshot with 7:49 in the half cut the Green Bay lead to 21-17.

However, UWGB took advantage of poor UWM shooting and numerous Panther turnovers in extending the lead the remainder of the half. The Phoenix scored the last four points of the half as UWM turned the ball over four times in the final 1:30 as the hosts raced to a 36-22 halftime lead. Green Bay shot 44.8% from the floor in the first half while holding Milwaukee to 23.3%. The Phoenix committed just four miscues in the first half to 13 for the Panthers.

UWGB made little doubt of the final outcome as it scored ten of the first 12 points of the half to increase its lead to 22, 46-24, at the 17:16 mark. Milwaukee scored the next nine points of the game to cut the lead to 13, 46-33, thanks to three consecutive baskets on three straight Kerri St. Aubin assists. However, Green Bay answered every UWM run before capping off the night with the 20-point win.

Maria Viall led UWM with 17 points and 16 rebounds while Kimberly Becker added nine points and 12 boards. Nicole Soulis paced UWGB with 22 points and five blocked shots while Abby Scharlow added 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Milwaukee dominated the boards, outrebounding the Phoenix 57-26 on the game. However, 29 turnovers and 32.3% shooting doomed the Panthers as Green Bay shot 44.8% from the floor and notched 16 assists to only nine turnovers.

Milwaukee will return to the court on Thursday (Jan. 29) when it hosts league-leading Detroit at the Klotsche Center. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.