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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Nov. 18, 2005) - Senior Molly O'Brien hit a three-pointer with 1:22 remaining in overtime and junior Megan Rogers converted two free throws as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team defeated Oakland, 73-71, in overtime Friday evening at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (1-1) led by as many as 14 in the first half, before the Grizzlies (0-1) fought back to lead late and eventually force overtime.

After Rogers' free throws made it 73-70 late in overtime, Anne Hafeli passed up a chance for a game-tying three and was fouled driving to the basket with 0.4 seconds remaining. She hit her first free throw and missed the second, as the ball was deflected out of bounds at the buzzer.

Freshman Traci Edwards led three Panthers in double figures, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds. O'Brien finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Kim Wypiszynski chipped in 11. Hafeli scored a game-high 20 points for OU and Nicole Piggott added 18 before fouling out halfway through overtime.

In the final minutes of regulation, the Panthers nearly saw the game slip away, falling down by as much as four down the stretch. After Edwards tied the game at 59-59 with just over a minute remaining, she grabbed a rebound on the other end. Sophomore Meredith Onson then hit a jumper from the left elbow for a 61-59 lead.

On the Grizzlies' next trip down the floor, Wilson drew a foul and tied the game with a pair of free throws and then stole the inbounding pass at midcourt. Both teams then took a timeout, before Wilson's last-second three fell short and the game headed into overtime.

"I could talk about all the negatives, but its early in the season yet. These are games our kids need to learn from. We have got to be able to put teams away," head coach Sandy Botham said. "I'm proud of our kids. When the game was on the line, they made big plays. Big offensive plays. We've got a lot of youth. These are great kids and this will give them confidence."

In overtime, each team traded baskets, with the game within two points up until Rogers' free throws. It was just UWM's second lead of the extra frame, and it put the team ahead for good. The Panthers hit on 4-of-6 shots after regulation, and finished the game at 40.3 percent. Meanwhile, the visitors were 3-of-6 and finished at 40 percent shooting on the night.

Playing a larger lineup with the 6-3 Edwards and six-foot sophomore Dana Schultz each getting the start, UWM out-rebounded Oakland by 16 at 51-35. Each rebound counted, as the faster, guard-oriented Grizzlies had 11 steals and forced 22 turnovers, while committing just 14.

Milwaukee broke open a close game early, using a 19-5 run midway through the first half to build a 13-point lead at 30-17. O'Brien kick-started the run with a three-pointer to take an 11-10 lead. The Panthers opened the biggest lead of the game at 35-21 on a pair of Wypiszynski free throws with just under four minutes to play, but Oakland then went on an 8-2 run to cut the gap to 37-29 at the break.

UWM shot just 37.5 percent in the first half, compared to 37 percent by Oakland, but got to the free throw line 15 times, hitting 10 of its attempts.

OU opened the second half by scoring the first eight points to tie the game at 37-37, but did not gain the lead until a Jayme Wilson three-pointer brought the score to 46-45 with 9:41 to play. UWM immediately answered, as Edwards converted a three-point play to take back the lead, which reached five points twice in the waning minutes.

"Our team was thinking too much, we were so tense and playing tentatively," Botham said. "We were playing not to lose. After a timeout, we got a little charge, a little momentum going. We weren't thinking as much and playing as tentatively."

The Panthers return to action Sunday, when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for a showdown with the University of Iowa. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised in Milwaukee on WMLW.