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CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 25, 2006) - Freshman Traci Edwards scored a career-high 28 points as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team clinched its first Horizon League Regular Season Championship since 2000-01 with a 78-66 win over Loyola, Saturday afternoon in Chicago.

The Panthers (19-8, 14-2 Horizon League) are Horizon League Co-Champions with UW-Green Bay, which defeated Butler in Indianapolis. But, Milwaukee clinches the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament as it has beaten the Phoenix twice this season.

"It's great. I'm really proud of our players," head coach Sandy Botham said of the league title. "We knew in the preseason that this team was special. We have a lot of ingredients that were going to be difficult to stop. I'm proud of how our team has stayed focused, come together and kept winning big game after big game."

UWM will now host the winner of Loyola and Cleveland State's first round game Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center in the league quarterfinals.

Edwards added 11 rebounds, three blocks and four steals for her 14th double-double of the season. Senior Molly O'Brien and sophomore Meredith Onson joined the rookie center in double-figures with 10 points apiece.

The Ramblers (3-24, 3-13 Horizon League) had four players in double-figures, led by 15 from Jenna Real.

Milwaukee was efficient on offense, shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 41.2 percent on three-pointers and 71.4 from the free throw line. It also had 23 assists on 28 made field goals, compared to a season-low 13 turnovers. UWM was, however, outrebounded for the first time in 13 games, 37-33.

"We have been sharing the ball really well. In the last game we had 22 assists to 21 turnovers, so we tried to keep things simple, spread it out and that's was we did," Botham said. "We did not run very many sets, we just spread the court out and got the ball into Traci. Our guards were not forced to do too much with the ball. That really made the difference and is what we have to do."

Loyola shot 43.1 percent for the game, after shooting almost 52 percent in the first half. LU was also forced into 22 turnovers, but had 17 assists and went 10-for-11 from the free throw line.

A close game at halftime, the Panthers pulled away in the second half. They went by as many 20 at 78-58 on a three-pointer from junior Kiley Johnson with 1:13 to play.

UWM opened the second half with a 15-6 run to push its lead over 10 points for the first time, at 51-39 with 11:37 to play. Onson opened the frame with a jumper and later added a three-pointer. Edwards meanwhile, tallied six of her 17 second half points during the span.

While the Panthers lead was cut to 10 on two occasions, the lead would be no less than 12 the final 10:32 of the game.

In the second half, UWM benefited from 50 percent shooting, including 3-of-4 on three-point attempts, and also committed just five turnovers. Milwaukee also held the Ramblers to 35.5 percent shooting for the period.

"We just opened things up in the second half," Botham said. "We talked at the half about establishing the inside game and just be patient; keep waiting and working. Traci was 5-for-5 and we wanted to keep going to the well."

LU led for much of the first half, holding an early seven-point lead as late as the second media timeout at 19-12. After freshmen Emily Markert hit a three-pointer to make it a one-point game, Mennella hit back-to-back three's to make it 17-10.

Each team then traded baskets before the Panthers rattled off eight-straight points for a one-point lead of their own. Sophomore Dana Schultz scored the first six points of the run on a pair of layups, then a turnaround jumper. Drummond put UWM ahead, converting two free throws.

"Loyola came out and played an inspired basketball game. They can score in any number of different ways," Botham said. "I thought we were back on our heels, they were very aggressive with us and we couldn't handle it."

The Ramblers would once again take a lead, this time at 30-25, before Milwaukee scored 11 of the final 14 points for a 36-33 halftime lead. Edwards hit a layup, then converted a three-point play to tie the game at 30. After a Jana Lucas three, Markert and Onson hit back-to-back three's for a three-point lead at the break