Dec. 8, 2004

Box Score

MADISON, WIS. - The University of Wisconsin went on a 20-3 run and broke a 40-40 tie early in the second half en route to a 75-66 victory in non-conference women's basketball action in front of 5,798 fans here Wednesday (Dec. 8). The Badgers shot 55.2% on the game and broke open the game late to improve to 3-4 on the season. The Panthers end a season-opening seven-game road swing with a 2-5 record.

"We played very well in the first half and came out aggressively," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "But in the second half our offense stalled and we couldn't get any stops defensively. We just stopped moving the ball and did a lot of standing around."

Both teams shot the ball extremely well in the first half as the Badgers took a 38-36 lead into the break. The first half saw four ties and ten lead changes as both teams clicked offensively. UWM shot 42.9% from the field in the first half with six three-pointers while Wisconsin connected on 57.1% of its shots. Milwaukee forced nine first half turnovers while outrebounding the hosts 18-14.

The two teams traded buckets to begin the second half and UWM tied the game at 40 on a Molly O'Brien post up play at the 19:11 mark. However, Wisconsin continually beat the Panther press and defense for open layups to grab its largest lead, 60-43, with 9:15 to play. The Badgers hit eight-of-14 shots during the stretch, all of which came from within ten feet of the basket.

Milwaukee fought back to within eleven, 63-52, after a Kimberly Becker layup and an Anne Witte three-point play but the Panthers could get no closer until Beth Reckelberg's three-point play with :03 remaining in the game. Wisconsin shot 53.3% from the floor in the second with 30 of its 37 points coming from the lane. UWM missed all eight of its three-point attempts in the second half while shooting just 36.7% as a team.

Nichole Drummond led Milwaukee with 13 points and five steals while Anne Witte added a season-high 11 points. Molly O'Brien finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals. UW put five players in double figures led by Jolene Anderson's 16 points with Annie Nelson adding 12.

The Panthers will play their first home game of the season on Sunday (Dec. 12) when Northwestern University comes to town. The game is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.