Nov. 26, 2004

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - Senior Teri Huff scored a career-high 21 points to lead all scorers as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball fought to erase a 20-point second half deficit, but fell short, losing to the University of Washington, 86-75, in the Seattle Times Classic Friday night in Seattle. The Panthers (0-3) shot 71 percent in the second half to get within five of the Huskies (3-1) twice late in the game, but could not get any closer in the loss.

"I'm disappointed with the loss," head coach Sandy Botham said. "It was a tale of two halves. We typically struggle early, though. Tonight we were tentative early and became aggressive late."

Breanne Watson staked UW out to a 20-point lead, its largest of the game, with her three-point field goal just over a minute into the second half. The two teams traded baskets for much of the period, as the margin stood between 12 and 19, before Milwaukee mounted its comeback attempt.

A three-pointer by junior Molly O'Brien sparked a 10-1 Panther run, to pull within five with five minutes remaining. Sophomore Aubrey Hampton followed with a three-pointer of her own before O'Brien hit a jumper and Huff drove for a lay-up to make it 75-70.

"Washington is a very aggressive defensive team," Botham said. "Their press is very effective. We knew coming in that we needed to go right at them and did not do that in the first half. But, in the second half we were able (to go right at them)."

For the half, Milwaukee connected on 17 of its 24 shots for 70.8 percent, including 7-of-10 from outside the arc. It finished the game, shooting 52 percent, and 40.9 on three-pointers. It was a substantial advantage in shooting for UWM, as the Huskies shot 40 percent for the game, and 45 percent on three-point attempt. UW did, however, gain a 44-27 advantage in rebounds, including 24 boards on the offensive end.

"Key boards (down the stretch) really broke our back," Botham said. "Rebounding has been our achilles heel in our three games this year.

Turnovers are what hurt the Panthers early. A tenacious press by Washington forced them into 15 first-half turnovers and broke open what began as a close game. With just over six and a half minutes in the first half, Hampton sank a pair of free throws to cut a slight UW lead to two points, at 21-19. The Huskies then scored the next 11 points in their way to a 43-26 halftime lead.

Hampton was a perfect 4-for-4 on three-pointers to join Huff in double-digits with 16, while senior Kimberly Becker and O'Brien each chipped in nine points. Becker also finished with a game-high eight rebounds.

Kristen O'Neill and Cheri Craddock led four Huskies in double-figures with 14 points, while Jill Bell and Watson chipped in 10 apiece.

The Panther continue action at the Seattle Times Classic in the consolation game against Columbia University. The Lions fell to the University of Alabama, 81-45, in the first game of the day. UWM and CU tip off at 2:30 p.m. Central Time, to be followed by Alabama and Washington in the championship game at 5 p.m.