Jan. 8, 2004

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Aubrey Hampton hit six free throws in the final 24 seconds of the game and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee held off a late three-point ambush by Butler University en route to a 64-59 victory in Horizon League women's basketball action at U.S. Cellular Arena here Thursday (Feb. 8). Butler had a chance to tie late but Jessica Monaco's threeball with three seconds left bounced off the rim and Hampton hit two more freebies for the final margin. UWM improves to 5-7 overall and 2-0 in the Horizon League while Butler falls to 4-9 and 1-2 in the loop.

"I knew we had to finally put the game away in the end," Hampton said. "I think we had control of the game late but I still needed to step up, make the free throws and put it away. Fortunately I was able to do that."

Milwaukee struggled offensively in the first half as Butler went into the break with a 26-25 lead. Butler led for the majority of the half and was able to lead by as mane as nine, 22-13, after an Ashley Brenden jumper with 4:52 on the clock. Back-to-back three pointers by Kiley Johnson and Nichole Drummond cut the lead to 22-19 at the 3:08 mark. UWM finally grabbed its first lead of the game, 25-24, on a Hampton steal and breakaway before Butler's Tiffany Smith hit two free throws to finish the first half scoring.

The Panthers shot just 33.3% in the half while hitting just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc. Furthermore, UWM turned the ball over ten times in the half to go with just five assists. Butler shot 37.0% in the stanza and outscored the Panthers by three at the charity stripe.

The two teams traded baskets to begin the first half as Milwaukee began to establish Maria Viall in the low post. The All-America Candidate scored the Panthers first ten points of the half but UWM was unable to jump ahead of the feisty Bulldogs. BU held a 43-39 lead with 11:17 mark before an Anne Witte baseline three-pointer and a driving layup by Teri Huff put the Panthers on top, 44-43.

Butler cut the lead to one, 46-45, on a Cortney Urquhart jumpshot on the next possession before a Johnson 18-footer and two Viall free throws pushed the cushion to five, 52-47. Viall scored the next four UWM points as the hosts seemingly appeared in control with a 56-48 lead at the 2:47 mark.

The Bulldogs didn't go quietly, however, as three Panther turnovers and three trifectas, the last by Monaco, made the score 60-59. Butler could get no closer, however, as the freshman Hampton sealed the deal with four more charities to round out the scoring.

"I think we are going to see this in almost every league game," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "Butler is a very improved team and we are fortunate to get the win. I think our press gave them some trouble in the second half and our zone seemed to give them some trouble. Then, Aubrey steps up and puts the game away."

UWM warmed up in the second half and shot 51.9% from the field while handing out twelve assists to go with just six turnovers. Butler hit 45.2% of its second half shots and four-of-ten from three-point land to stay close. Viall led all players with 24 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots while Drummond added ten points off the bench. Ellen Hamilton led Butler with 17 points on five-of-eight three-point shooting. Urquhart added ten points in the losing effort.

Milwaukee will look to remain unbeaten in league play on Saturday when Loyola University comes to town. The game is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus.