Box Score |  Notes

FARGO, N.D. (Dec. 10, 2006) - Sophomore Traci Edwards scored 14 points, all in the second half, and senior Aubrey Hampton added 10, but it was not enough as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team lost to North Dakota State, 63-53, Sunday afternoon in Fargo.

The Panthers (4-7) led for much of the afternoon, but fell down late and could not recover in falling to 1-6 on the road this season. The Bison moved to 3-4 on the year.

"Today was a game of runs and they had the last run," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "They answered last and we just didn't respond, getting back on our heels. They pressured us and we didn't respond and fight back.

"We didn't have the mentality we needed. It was there in spurts, but it wasn't enough."

Edwards, who had just one shot attempt in the first half, scored all of her points after halftime, adding nine rebounds, two steals and three assists. Hampton hit her first three 3-point attempts of the afternoon and dished out six assists on the afternoon.

Sophomore Turquoise McCain and junior Aubri Rote each added eight points for Milwaukee. Rote's eight points all came in the final 5:35 of the first half to help the Panthers rebound from a four-point deficit.

"Some our starters were having some trouble playing as well as they could, so it was nice to be able to go to the bench and get the contributions we did," Botham said. "Aubri and Dana (Schultz) stepped up big for us when we needed it going into halftime."

Jerri Penley finished with a game-high 15 points for ND State to go with eight boards, four blocks and three steals. Lisa Bue contributed 12 points and Brenda Slyt added 11 for the Bison.

UWM shot 36.7 percent for the game, but ended 7-for-15 on three-pointers and was a respectable 71.4 percent from the free throw line. NDSU, meanwhile, shot 41.5 percent from the field and made 15-of-21 free throw attempts. The Bison also held the 39-29 advantage in rebounds, including 14 on the offensive glass.

An 8-2 Bison run late in the second half looked to be the difference, turning a 46-43 Panther lead into a 51-48 game with 2:11 remaining. Each team matched the other down the stretch.

McCain pulled Milwaukee within one at 54-53 with 1:18 to play, but NDSU pulled away on a jumper by Danni Heintzelman and the final seven points of the game from the free throw line.

Milwaukee had led for much of the second half, though the frame featured four lead changes and three times. The team brought a 25-22 lead out of the locker room and built it to seven on a pair of Edwards lay ups jus 1:08 into the half. UWM's lead peaked at eight on a pair of occasions, lastly at 34-26 with 16:24 remaining.

The Panthers were hot out of the gates, hitting their first four three-point attempts of the game and jumping out to a 12-7 lead at the 16:12 mark of the frame. Hampton hit three-straight three-point attempts for UWM after Junior Meredith Onson got the ball rolling with a three in the first minute.

"NDSU came out in a triangle and two and really matched up on Traci and Meredith, leaving Aubrey wide open and she knocked them down," Botham said. "After that, we got back on our heels and couldn't respond when they went on a run."

NDSU answered back, scoring 11 of the game's next 12 points and holding Milwaukee without another field goal for 10:47. When the smoke cleared, the Bison had taken an 18-13 lead by the time Rote hit a long three to end the drought.

UWM then took control of the game, holding the home team without a field goal until the final three seconds of the half. Rote and junior Dana Schultz provided the punch on the offensive end as the Panthers rattled off seven-straight points.

Rote finished the half with eight points, trailing only Hampton. Milwaukee hot and cold shooting evened out in the end, as it shot 40.9 percent for the period, including an exceptional 6-of-10 on three-pointers. ND State shot just 32 percent, but remained close by winning the battle on the boards, 20-17.

Both teams committed 10 turnovers, with UWM picking up six assists and three blocks.

Milwaukee returns to action at home, hosting Chicago State Wednesday Dec. 13 at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers and Cougars tip off at 7 p.m.