Feb. 19, 2004

Box Score

CHICAGO - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team placed five players in double figures and overcame a five-point halftime deficit in claiming a 73-64 Horizon League victory here Thursday (Feb. 19). The Panthers, who fell behind 11-0 to begin the game, outscored UIC 37-23 in the second half in winning their seventh consecutive game. UWM improves to 14-10 overall and 10-3 in the Horizon League while the Flames fell to 12-13 and 6-8 in league play.

UIC began the game on fire, hitting its first four shots in grabbing the 11-0 lead at the 17:49 mark. UWM sophomore Molly O'Brien kept the Panthers in the game early on, scoring Milwaukee's first nine points with three trifectas in the first 6:22 of the first half. The Flames continued to shoot well in the first half and went into the break with a 41-36 lead. UIC hit 16-of-31 shots in the frame and six-of-10 from the three-point line. Meanwhile, UWM connected on 40.0% from the field in the first half. The two teams each grabbed 17 rebounds in the half, a stat in which Milwaukee would dominate in the last 20 minutes.

Chastity Quinn opened the second half scoring, pushing the lead to seven, 43-36, with a 10-foot jumpshot at the 17:50 mark. However, from that point on it was all Milwaukee as Nichole Drummond, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored seven points to ignite a 14-0 UWM run. The seven Drummond points and a Kiley Johnson three-ball gave the Panthers a 50-44 cushion with 11:47 left in the game.

While UIC went cold on offense the Panthers dominated the glass, which helped the visitors stretch the lead. Two Maria Viall free throws followed by two more by Drummond with 5:21 to play gave Milwaukee its largest lead of the game, 65-54. UIC tried to scratch back into the game via the three-point shot, but stingy UWM defense and solid free throw shooting down the stretch helped the Panthers cruise to the nine-point victory.

UWM outrebounded the Flames 31-15 in the second half while holding the Flames to 20.0% shooting in the frame. The Panthers outscored the hosts 20-10 from the free throw line while the two teams combined for 19 three-point baskets.

Viall led Milwaukee with 23 points and 17 rebounds, her tenth double-double of the year. Johnson added 14 including three three-balls while Drummond added 12 with O'Brien and Anne Witte adding 11 markers apiece. UIC was led by LaShonda Grant's 18 points while Chrissy Dizon added 12 points with Krystal Hugelier notched 11.

The Panthers, who sit alone in second place in the league standings, will look for their eight consecutive victory when the come back to Chicago on Saturday (Feb. 21). UWM will face Loyola University at the Gentile Center on the LU campus. The game is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.