Dec. 28, 2004

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - No. 18 University of Iowa finished the game overcame a one-point deficit with 3:08 to go and scored the final nine points of the game while thwarting the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's upset bid en route to a 59-51 victory in women's basketball action here Tuesday (Dec. 28). Milwaukee, which led by five points at the half, fell to 3-6 on the season while Iowa remained unbeaten with an 11-0 regular season record.

The visiting Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the games first 1:18 thanks to five straight points by center Jamie Cavey. Iowa stretched its lead to six, 11-5, on a Krista Vandeventer layup with 16:00 left in the half before back-to-back Molly O'Brien three-pointers tied the game with 14:32 to play.

The two teams traded baskets before the Panthers grabbed their first lead of the game, 15-14, when Aubrey Hampton converted a driving layup with 11:42 on the clock. A Nichole Drummond three-ball pushed the lead to four only to see Johanna Solverson score five straight points to give Iowa the one-point lead.

Milwaukee turned up the defensive pressure the remainder of the half and ended the frame on a 12-0 run to take a 30-25 lead into the break. Nichole Drummond scored four points during the run while Kimberly Becker and Hampton each nailed three-pointers. UWM shot just 31.1% in the first half but held the Hawkeyes to 28.1% shooting from the floor and just 1-12 from three-point land. The five-point deficit marked just the second time this season Iowa trailed at the half.

The Panthers continued to lead early into the second half and maintained a five-point lead, 32-27, on a pair of Becker free throws with 18:11 remaining. UWM then hit the wall offensively and turned the ball over seven times in the next eight possessions as Iowa scored six straight points to grab a 33-32 lead on a Crystal Smith jumper with 13:38 to play. Hampton quickly put Milwaukee back on top with her second three-pointer of the game on the next possession but four more Hawkeye points gave the visitors a 37-35 lead with 11:58 left to play.

Megan Rogers drilled a three-ball on the next trip down to give UWM a bried 38-37 lead but five straight points by Smith pushed Iowa back ahead, 42-38. After both teams traded baskets Hampton hit another trilighter with 7:55 left to make it 44-43 Iowa but the Hawkeyes scored four consecutive points to grab a 48-43 cushion with 5:41 to play.

The Panthers made one last push and eventually grabbed the lead, 51-50, with 3:08 remaining. Teri Huff scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the lead to one before IU's Solverson scored on the other end to make it 50-47. Milwaukee tied it the next time down when Amanda Cook drilled her first three-pointer of the season with 3:38 to play. After a defensive stop Drummond hit one of two charities for the one-point Milwaukee lead.

Iowa stepped up its defensive pressure over the final three minutes and ended up grinding out the win by scoring the final nine points. Johanna Solverson completed two steal-layup breakaways in the final two minutes while Milwaukee turned the ball over in three of its final six possessions to go with three missed shots. Iowa forced 14 second half turnovers and shot 53.3% from the floor to just 29.2% for UWM. Milwaukee won the rebounding battle versus the usually solid rebounding Hawkeyes 41-39 but Iowa registered 15 steals and six blocked shots.

"I thought we came out with a really good game plan and I think our zone defense really gave Iowa troubles, especially in the first half," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We just weren't able to execute down the stretch and they were and that made the difference in the end. I am proud of the way our team played and we had a chance to win this game versus a Top 20 team."

Hampton led UWM with 11 points while Huff added 10. Drummond struggled from the floor and shot 1-12 overall but still finished with eight points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Solverson led all players with 23 points with Cavey and Smith adding 18 and 13, respectively.

The Panthers will enjoy just one day off before opening Horizon League play on Thursday (Dec. 30). Milwaukee hosts in-state rival UW-Green Bay at 7:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus.

Game Notes

* UWM made a season-high ten three-pointers while taking a season-high tying 29 attempts

* Milwaukee outrebound Iowa 41-39 on the game, marking the first time Iowa has been outrebounded all season

* Senior center Kimberly Becker played the entire 40 minutes for the first time in her four-year career

* Nichole Drummond grabbed a season-high nine rebounds