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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Feb. 16, 2006) - Freshman Traci Edwards scored a game-high 15 points and sophomore Dana Schultz added a career-high 11 to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 69-55 win over Detroit Thursday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers have won six-straight and move to 16-8 on the season with a 11-2 mark in league play. They also remain tied with UW-Green Bay for first in the league standings, as UWGB defeated Youngstown State, 81-69 in Green Bay. UWM plays YSU Saturday in its home season finale.

Detroit fell to 11-14 this season and 8-6 in the league.

"Four down, three to go. We have three big wins to go on the conference," Schultz said after the game. "That was huge for us, beating Detroit. It's so important. Any more losses in the conference negate any big wins we've had in the past. Every game we have to come out stronger than the game before."

Schultz scored six of UWM's first 12 points to equal her previous career-best, while all 16 players on the roster saw time for Milwaukee and 11 scored. Senior Nichole Drummond added eight points, while freshmen Emily Markert added seven and Kim Wypiszynski six.

"I feel like I say it time and time again. We have different people stepping up for us every game," head coach Sandy Botham said. "We had some great minutes from players coming off the bench tonight. It's great to have Dana here. She had played such a great role for us. She's not a huge scorer for us, but she is starting to come into her own and not force things and take what is given to her."

Three Titans shared team-high scoring honors, as Katie Solner, Caitie Goddard and Shawanna Stubblefield scored 10 apiece.

Milwaukee shot 47.7 percent on the night on just 44 shots, but went 24-for-34 (.706) from the free throw line. Meanwhile, UDM made just 37.5 percent of its 64 field goal attempts, but went to the free throw line just three times, making none. The Panthers also outrebounded Detroit, 42-30.

UWM jumped out to a 12-5 lead on a Schultz jumper 5:42 into the game, but the Titans fought back to take the lead at 17-16 when Stubblefield hit back-to-back baskets midway through the frame. Both teams traded baskets until junior Megan Rogers put the Panthers ahead for good at 20-19 with 8:19 to go before halftime.

Detroit remained within one with 7:21 remaining, but Milwaukee then scored the next eight points, while holding the visitor's scoreless for almost six minutes, to open a nine-point lead and it never looked back, taking a 33-28 lead into the break.

A 10-2 run early in the second half pushed UWM's lead to 11 just five minutes into the second half. Its lead would peak at 13 before Detroit fought back within five, capped by another basket by Stubblefield. Milwaukee pulled away once again, hitting 12-of-17 free throws after that point and making all three field goal attempts down the stretch to go ahead by 14 in the final 33 seconds.

"A lot of teams we play are very dangerous and can put up points. Lately, I've felt so much confidence in our team down the stretch," Schultz said. "Whether it is UW-Green Bay, Loyola or the last team in the conference. We just have a confidence down the stretch and we just feel it."