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IOWA CITY, Iowa (Nov. 20,2005) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball committed 31 turnovers and shot just under 16 percent in the second half in falling to the University of Iowa, 82-42, Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Panthers (1-2) were held scoreless for almost nine minutes in the second half in falling in the Hawkeyes' (1-0) season-opener.

Freshman Traci Edwards posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards, while freshman Emily Markert added eight and sophomore Meredith Onson seven. Four players reached double figures for Iowa, including Stacy Schlapkohl, Krista VandeVenter and Megan Skouby who scored 12 points apiece. Crystal Smith added 11 for the Hawkeyes.

UWM's shooting woes came after it hit on 50 percent of its shots in the first half. In the second half, the Panthers shot 15.6 percent and had 16 turnovers that led to 19 UI points. The Hawkeyes shot 61.5 after halftime, but finished with 10 turnovers in the frame.

"This early in the season, we are still figuring ourselves out. Our players, offensively, did some good things in the first half," head coach Sandy Botham said. "It's taking care of the basketball and taking shots. I thought we had great looks in the second half. We just have to be able to finish the plays."

After leading 38-23 at halftime, the Hawkeyes pushed their lead to 21 at 44-23 by scoring the first six points of the second half. Milwaukee cut the lead to 18 on two occasions early, but would not get any closer. After a Markert three-pointer made it 57-36 with 12:17 to play, Milwaukee did not score for 8:45, as Iowa went on a 16-0 run for a 37-point lead at 73-36. Senior Amanda Cook ended the run by hitting the second of two free throws with 3:32 to go in the game.

"When teams go on runs, good teams like this, you can't afford to make mistakes" Botham said. "You have to keep fighting. We lost the fight and that is what was disappointing."

In the end, it was the Hawkeyes' size that proved the difference. They outscored UWM, 42-18, in the paint with Schlapkohl (6-foot-3), VandeVenter (6-2) and Skouby (6-6) scoring repeatedly from the low post. The Panthers did, however, gain the 33-32 edge in rebounds.

Milwaukee finished with 31 turnovers and shot 29.6 percent for the game, while Iowa was forced into 20 turnovers, but shot a blistering 58.5 percent from the field. Both teams attempted to go inside much of the game, as UI took just six three's and UWM 16. Fifteen of the Panthers' three point attempts came after halftime, as they tried to claw back into the game.

"We're learning how to play together. We're learning the combinations," Botham said. "Our defense is ahead of our offense and it showed. They need to work the possessions."

In the first half, Edwards scored the first six points of the game for UWM, staking the Panthers to an early 6-5 lead on her lay-up five minutes into the game. Iowa then scored back-to-back baskets, before Onson hit a bucket down on the other end to make it 9-8 with 12:24 to go in the half.

The Hawkeyes then went on a 15-3 run to build a 24-11 lead when Megan Skouby hit her second-straight jumper in the paint for IU, while at one point Krista VadeVenter scored nine-straight point during the run. Iowa's first half lead reached 17 points at 36-19 with 1:20 to go before halftime. The Panthers stemmed the tide a bit Markert scored four points in the final minute to make it 38-23 at halftime.

Turnovers dominated the first half, as UWM committed 15, while forcing 10. The Hawkeyes, however, outscored Milwaukee 19-6 off those turnovers. Neither team had trouble putting the ball in the basket, as the Panthers shot 50 percent (11-22) for the half and Iowa finished at 55.6 percent (15-27).

The Panthers are in action next at Southeast Missouri State Friday, Nov. 25. UWM and SEMO will top off at 7 p.m. in the first half of a home-and-home series to be played this season.