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MADISON, Wis. (Nov. 20, 2006) - The University of Wisconsin scored the first 24 points of the game and never looked back in handing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team a 78-45 loss, Monday evening in Madison.

The Panthers (1-4), who were playing their third game in four days, turned the ball over 24 times and could not get their offense going in shooting 34.2 percent for the game.

"Our kids were playing in their third game in four days, that puts them in a tough spot," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We didn't come out of the blocks well and we never recovered."

Sophomore Traci Edwards picked up her third double-double of the season on a team-high 10 points and game-high 12 rebounds, while also blocking three shots. Sophomore Turquoise McCain added 10 points of her own, while junior Meredith Onson added eight.

Four Badgers reached double figures in scoring, led by Jolene Anderson's 17 points. Jolene Banks added 13 and both Rae Lin D'Alie and Caitlin Gibson tallied 12 points.

In addition to shooting just 34.2 percent from the field, UWM also hit on just 2-of-13 three-point attempts. One redeeming stat for the Panthers was from the free throw line, where they shot 17-for-18 (.944) for the third-best free throw shooting game in school history.

UW shot 47.8 percent for the game and held a 35-27 rebounding advantage. It also tallied 27 points off turnovers and held scoring edges of 42-14 in the paint and 16-0 in fast-break points.

"Wisconsin out-played us. You look at our last few losses and turnovers have been our Achilles heel," Botham said. "They pressed us in the full court and in the half-court and it got to us. Twenty-seven points off turnovers--that's the game."

Turnovers and cold shooting hounded Milwaukee early, as it was held without a field goal until the 10:24 mark of the first half when senior Megan Rogers hit a jumper to make it 24-2. UWM had six turnovers in its first eight possessions and 11 before scoring its first points of the game.

Wisconsin built its lead to 27 for the first time at 35-8 with five minutes to go before halftime. Milwaukee cut it to 23 on four-straight points by Onson, but could get no closer, as the Badgers held a 43-16 lead at the break.

For the half, the Panthers shot just 35.3 percent and finished with 17 turnovers, including nine on Wisconsin steals. The home team, meanwhile, hit on 54.5 percent of its field goal tries and converted UWM miscues into 17 points.

It was more of the same in the second half, as the Badgers scored the first eight points of the frame and began the half with a 13-2 run to make it 56-18 on a Gibson turnaround jumper with 14:32 to go in the game.

Milwaukee answered with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 31 and then fought to get within 29 on several occasions, but would get no closer.

Edwards, Onson and freshman Maddy Kusilek each went 4-for-4 from the free throw line to lead the effort from the charity stripe. Edwards is now 23-for-24 from the line on the season, while Kusilek's charity tosses were the first four points of her career.

The Panthers return to action this weekend, playing in the SMU Hoops For The Cure Classic, Nov. 24-25 in Dallas, Texas. UWM opens the tournament Friday against San Jose State and will play the winner of SMU/Bradley on Saturday.