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DETROIT, Mich. (Dec. 29, 2005) - The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee women's basketball team jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game and never looked back in defeating Detroit, 74-56, Thursday evening in Detroit, Mich., in the league opener for both schools.

Freshman Traci Edwards led the Panthers (5-6, 1-0 Horizon League) with 20 points and eight rebounds, while seniors Nichole Drummond and Molly O'Brien added 13 apiece. Kelly Jaskot scored 11 and Lindsey Pasquinzo added 10 for the Titans (3-9, 0-1 Horizon League).

Milwaukee jumped on the home team early, rattling off a 12-0 run after quick baskets by both teams in the first 22 seconds of the game. Sophomore Meredith Onson kick-started the run with a three, before Drummond scored five-straight points and Edwards the next four to make it 14-2 with 15:47 to go before halftime.

"Our players just came out loose. They were able to take advantage of transition and caught Detroit sleeping a little bit," head coach Sandy Botham said. "It took them a while to get going. We talked about coming out and setting the tone the first five minutes, so we did that well."

On defense, the Panthers held Detroit without a field goal for 5:06 in the early portion of the game to build a 12-point advantage. UWM's lead hit a high of 16 points for the frame at 25-9 on a jumper from freshman Emily Markert just past the midway point. The Titans then went on a 13-2 run to pull within five at 27-22. The streak was capped by a Joanna Cooper layup.

UWM's lead got back up to 12 at 37-25 after an 8-0 run, before UDM scored the final five points of the period to provide for the 37-30 halftime score. The Panthers shot a blistering 56 percent for the half, including 5-of-10 on three-point tries, but were hampered by 13 turnovers before halftime.

The Titans shot just 37.5 percent for the half and made just 1-of-8 three's after entering the game shooting 36.5 percent on three-pointers. Detroit also shot just 55.6 percent on nine free throw attempts, while Milwaukee made 4-of-5.

Both teams struggled in the early goings of the second half, shooting a combined 5-for-19 at the first media timeout of the frame. UWM benefited from the free throw line, hitting six of its first eight attempts of the period. After the Panthers turned their seven-point halftime lead into a 13-point lead at 53-40, the Titans fought back to pull within seven at 58-51 on a Katie Goddard jumper with 8:32 to play.

Milwaukee then rattled off 12-straight points to take its largest lead of the game at 70-51 with 4:14 to go in the game.

"We talked about at halftime that they are a very guard-oriented team," Botham said. "They penetrate and create shots for each other extremely well. We were getting beat off the penetration way too much. At halftime we talked about using the zone to try and contain them a little bit more."

UWM cooled off after halftime, but heated up as the period went on, finishing at 43.5 percent for the half and 50 percent for the game. The Panthers also went to the free throw line 25 times, 20 after half, making 20 for an 80 percent clip. They also outrebounded Detroit, 42-27. Milwaukee also held Detroit to just 34.9 percent shooting for the game, including 15.8 percent on three-point tries (3-19).

"We got into the double bonus early because we were being aggressive. After halftime we were able to get penetration and use the post more," Botham said. "Those two factors helped up to get to the free throw line. They were being aggressive, trying to claw their way back into it and create offense with their defense."

The Panthers return to action on New Year's Eve when they host Butler in their Horizon League home opener. UWM and Butler tip off at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Klotsche Center.