Nov. 15, 2004

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MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team had four players reach double-figures but it wasn't enough as a strong second half propelled Wisconsin AAU to a 78-71 victory in women's basketball exhibition action here Monday (Nov. 15). The Panthers finished the exhibition season 1-1 while AAU finished its five-game swing of local Division I schools at 3-2.

Milwaukee grabbed an early 5-0 lead on a Teri Huff layup and a Molly O'Brien baseline three-pointer before AAU got on the board with a DeeDee Pate three-ball at the 17:47 mark. The Panthers, who never trailed in the first half, had a five-point lead on three different occasions before Aubrey Hampton nailed a three-pointer with 3:45 remaining in the half to make it 28-22.

The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before Milwaukee grabbed its biggest lead of the game, 33-26, on an Anne Witte trifecta at the 1:50 mark. Anna Jaramillo-Garchek drilled back to back jumpers to close the gap but a Hampton driving layup gave the Panthers a 35-30 halftime lead.

Wisconsin AAU scored the first four points of the half to get within one, 35-34, before eventually grabbing its first lead, 40-39, when Anna Deforge drilled a 15-foot pull-up jumper at the 16:17 mark. Nichole Drummond's three-pointer and Huff's driving layup gave Milwaukee a 44-40 cushion but AAU scored 12 of the next 14 points to go ahead 52-46 with 11:53 remaining.

Milwaukee continued to battle and eventually tied the game at 59 with 8:15 to play after back-to-back three-pointers by Hampton and Megan Rogers. DeForge, who scored 18 second-half points, drilled a bigtime three to make it 62-59 before a Huff layup made it a one-point game with 7:35 left.

However, UWM could get no closer than four points, 71-67, the rest of the way as DeForge and Garchek-Jaramillo combined for 10 points down the stretch to put the Panthers away. Milwaukee shot just 36.8% from the floor while connecting on eight-of-33 three-point attempts. AAU outrebounded Milwaukee 45-40 on the game while UWM notched 16 assists to go with just 12 turnovers.

Huff scored 20 points to lead UWM while O'Brien added 11 points and a game-high seven assists. Drummond and Hampton notched 10 points apiece while Kimberly Becker just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-best 11 rebounds. DeForge scored a game-high 22 points while Garchek-Jaramillo added 21 points and 10 boards.

UWM will open regular season play on Saturday (Nov. 20) when it travels to crosstown rival Marquette for a 2:00 p.m. showdown. MU has won the last nine meetings including a last-second 58-55 victory last season.