Jan. 27, 2005

Box Score

DETROIT, Mich. - Nichole Drummond's layup with 1.1 seconds remaining capped off an improbable come back as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee posted a 74-73 overtime victory of the University of Detroit in Horizon League women's basketball action here Thursday (Jan. 27). UWM overcame a 12-point deficit in the game's final 3:28 and needed two Megan Rogers free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. With the victory UWM improves to 9-9 overall and 6-2 in league play while Detroit falls to 6-13 overall and 3-5 in league action.

Detroit's Melissa Harakas opened the scoring with a 15-foot jumper before an Aubrey Hampton three-ball gave UWM the lead. A pair of Kimberly Becker free throws gave Milwaukee a 5-2 lead before a 7-0 run gave the Titans a 9-5 lead with 14:01 to play in the half. A Lindsay Pasquinzo three-ball from the corner pushed the Titan lead to 12-7 before layups by Drummond and Becker sandwiched a Molly O'Brien three to give Milwaukee a 14-12 cushion with 11:52 to play.

The Panther offense stalled from that point on, as UWM went the next 3:06 with five straight turnovers and no shot attempts. Fortunately for Milwaukee the Titan offense wasn't much better as UDM scored in just two of its five possessions to grabe an 18-16 lead on a Caitie Goddard long jumper. Detroit scored the next four points to go up 22-16 before a Becker driving layup finally stopped the bleeding.

Milwaukee took a 23-22 lead on another Hampton three-pointer with 3:01 to play but Detroit scored six of the last eight points of the half to take a 29-25 lead into the break. The Panthers connected on just 10-of-37 (37.0%) in the first half while committing 10 turnovers. Detroit shot 38.2% from the floor but benefited from six steals and five blocked shots.

UWM scored the first five points of the second half and grabbed a quick lead, 30-29, on a Drummond driving layup with 18:47 to play in regulation. The turnover bug bit Milwaukee as the visitors turned the ball over six times in the game's next 6:36 as Detroit grabbed a 43-37 lead after two Solner free throws with 12:09 to play.

Rogers drilled a three-ball on Milwaukee's next possession to cut the lead to three but Detroit scored the next six points to grab a 49-40 lead with 8:56 remaining. Milwaukee continued to fight and got back to within four, 54-50, with 5:28 to play before Detroit seemingly took the game over. The Titans reeled off six straight points and went up 62-50 on a Kelly Jaskot breakaway with 3:28 to play.

The Panthers took the game over from there as Drummond scored seven points to cap a 9-0 run to bring UWM within three with 1:23 remaining. Melissa Harakas' jumper pushed the lead to five, 64-59 with 1:15 to play. Rogers' drilled a three-pointer in transition on the next UWM possession and following a UDM turnover Drummond scored on another post move to tie the game at 64 with 19 seconds left.

Joanna Cooper raced down the floor and nailed a driving jump shot with eight seconds left to give UDM the lead. The Panthers inbounded the ball, found Rogers, who was fouled by Cooper with 1.8 seconds left. The sophomore reserve capped off her 13-point second half performance with the two charities to send the game to overtime.

Milwaukee took the early overtime lead on a Hampton three-ball from the right corner. A Goddard jumper on Detroit's next possession cut the lead to one before Hampton delivered again from the baseline to make it 72-68 UWM with 2:48 to play. Detroit scored the next five points and grabbed a 73-72 lead on a Pasquinzo's fifth three of the night with 2:07 to play.

Following one UWM turnover and two by Goddard the Panthers took over the ball with 14 seconds left. Drummond took the ball at the right wing and missed a fade away eight footer. Rogers' then missed on the put back try but Drummond flew through, grabbed the rebound, and scored on a left-handed put back for the game winner. Detroit's last ditch three pointer clanged off the backboard as time expired.

Drummond led five UWM players in double figures with 17 points. Hampton added 14 while Rogers scored 13 off the bench. Becker scored 12 points to go with a career-high 14 rebounds while O'Brien added 12 points and nine boards. Pasquinzo led Detroit with 19 points while Solner finished a fine performance with 17 points and nine assists.

Milwaukee stays on the road and faces Youngstown State on Saturday (Jan. 29). The Panthers and Titans are set to tipoff at 1 p.m. in Youngstown, Ohio.