Oct. 17, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Jamie Gabrielsen had 20 kills to lead three players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 30-24, 26-30, 30-28, 30-21 win over crosstown rival Marquette Wednesday night at the Klotsche Center.

Leanne Felsing added 14 kills, 14 digs and 27 assists for her 12th triple-double of the season and Natalie Schmitting pitched-in with 10 kills from the middle for the Panthers (19-2), who won for the 19th time in their last 20 matches.

Kimberley Todd led Marquette (8-9) with 23 kills while Ashlee Fisher added 16.

UWM's defense was again solid, as Lauren Felsing led the way with 19 digs. The Panthers also got additional contributions from Becky Peters (nine kills, 14 digs), Maddie Sueppel (eight kills) and Kellye Zaporski (26 assists, nine digs).

"I thought a number of people really turned it up in the third and fourth games," UWM head coach Susie Johnson said. "Leanne and Jamie really carried us offensively in those first two games but Kellye, Natalie, Maddie, Becky - they all stepped up for us. And, we continue to get great defense from Lauren. We really started to click and I think it will be a great confidence boost for us heading into this weekend."

The key momentum swing came late in the third game, as the Panthers turned a two-point deficit into a two-point victory and rode that wave into a huge early lead in the fourth frame. Milwaukee trailed, 26-24, before scoring four-straight points for a 28-26 lead. The Golden Eagles rallied to tie the game at 28 before a service error gave UWM a 29-28 lead. Leanne Felsing followed that with an ace of her own to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead in the match.

UWM continued its sprint early in the fourth game, scoring 15 of the first 20 points. Marquette did rally to within 21-18, but the Panthers' cushion was enough. Milwaukee pushed its lead back to 28-19 on a solo block by Sueppel and then closed out the game and match on two kills from Felsing.

"It was tight in that third game but when we pulled it out, you could just see how excited we were," Johnson said. "We definitely carried that momentum with us and built up a bit of a cushion in that fourth game."

The two teams had split the first two games. In game one, the Panthers broke a 14-all tie by scoring seven of the next nine points. Then, a kill by Felsing pushed the lead to 22-17 and a block by Maddie Sueppel and Kelley Olson made it 25-19. Marquette did close the gap to 26-23 but would get no closer. An ace by Gabrielsen and a kill by Sueppel highlighted the final run as UWM went ahead in the match.

The Golden Eagles struck back in game two, breaking a 4-all tie with an 11-3 run. The lead hit 16-8 on a Katie Weidner kill and was still 23-16 after a block by Todd and Jenn Brown. The Panthers did rally to within 24-21 and again to within 29-26, but a block by Brown and Tiffany Helmbrecht evened the match.

UWM, though, was able to pull out that tight third game and roll through the fourth frame, giving it a head of steam heading into a key weekend of league play. The Panthers host Cleveland State Friday night in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Horizon League. Then, Saturday, UWM hosts Youngstown State on Senior Day.

"I think this was a really good match to play heading into this weekend," Johnson said. "Marquette is a very good team with a big block and some excellent hitters, and working against all of that is great preparation. Plus, it is good for us to get out of the league at this time of the year, see a bigger team with a big block and maybe learn some things from it."

Friday's match begins at 7 p.m. while Saturday's match starts at 4 p.m.