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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (March 6, 2006) - Freshman Traci Edwards scored a game-high 24 points and was named Horizon League Tournament MVP as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team defeated UIC, 71-63, in the championship game of the 2006 Horizon League Championship Monday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (22-8) now advance to their second NCAA Tournament, after previously winning the league tourney in 2001. Edwards added eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals, while senior Molly O'Brien joined her on the all-tournament team, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for her fourth double-double of the season.

"It feels great. We've always been one of the top teams in the league, but we've always faltered. There's a lot of pressure in these games, but haven't been able to handle it," head coach Sandy Botham said. "This is what you work for. We set goals and our first was to win the regular season. Our second was to win the tournament and get to the NCAA Tournament.

"It was great to be at home for this as the number one seed. We held court and were able to do it in front of our home crowd and in this city."

Pairings for the NCAA Tournament will be announced live Monday, March 13, at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Jacquay Holmes led the Flames (16-14) with 17 points, while Chrissy Dizon and LaShonda Grant added 15 points apiece on their way to all-tournament team honors. Butler's Lade Akande rounded out the five-member all-tournament team.

UWM led by as many as 12 in the second half, while UIC fought back to within two when Nicole Rinaldi hit a layup just before the midway point of the second half to make it 44-42. The Panthers later converted 8-of-11 free throws in the final minute to provide for the final score.

"When a team like UIC starts to come back you're holding your breath," Botham said. "We weren't executing well and they do a great job in transition. We started to lose our poise, but we were able to gain it back and that's important."

The Panthers overcame early shooting woes to finish at 47.9 percent for the game, while hitting 6-of-13 from beyond the arc. Turnovers were an issue for UWM, as it gave the ball away 23 times. Defensively, the team limited its opponents to just 38.1 percent from the field, 22.2 percent on three's and blocked seven shots.

Milwaukee used a 20-1 run towards the end of the first half to take control of what had been a close game. Jacquay Holmes hit a jumper to make it 17-13 with 8:25 to play in the half. The Panthers then scored the next 16 points of the game for a 12-point lead when freshman Emily Markert hit a three-pointer to make it 29-17, 1:44 before halftime.

UWM's lead hit a game-high 15 points at 33-18 when O'Brien and senior Nichole Drummond hit back-to-back baskets with 40 seconds remaining. The team hit its final six shots of the frame and took a 33-22 lead into the break.