Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Dec. 28, 2007) - Junior Traci Edwards scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 76-55 win over Cardinal Stritch Friday evening at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (4-6) led for most of the game and picked up their first home win of the season. Meanwhile, the Wolves (11-3), ranked No. 17 in the NAIA Division II rankings, saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.

"(Stritch is) a good basketball team. That's why we scheduled them," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "Our team has been our own worst enemy this season and we were struggling with confidence issues. The key tonight was that we won the hustle war in the second half. In the first half, they were getting the loose balls and offensive rebounds. After halftime, we got after it more and then were getting the loose balls and offensive boards."

Edwards collected her sixth double-double of the season, while three other starters reached double-figures. Senior Aubri Rote hit her first 4 three-point attempts of the game to finish with 14, while junior Turquoise McCain chipped in 11 and sophomore Jodie McClain a career-high 10.

"In the first half Traci was passive and not aggressive," Botham said. "We knew she was going to get the double team. In the second half, she was more aggressive, both with the double teams and the passes."

Michelle Stelloh scored 12 points to lead Stritch and Megan Shirley tallied 10.

Milwaukee led throughout the game, but saw the Wolves cut its lead to two at 40-38 just over five minutes into the second half. The Panthers then ventured on a 25-7 run to push their lead to 20 at 65-45. UWM then cemented its 20-point advantage with 4:08 to play when a McClain three-pointer kick-started a 7-0 run to make it 74-50 with 1:49 remaining.

"Our aggressiveness on the defensive end really helped. We were also more aggressive on the offensive end," Botham said. "We had isolations for Traci and Turq on post-ups. Traci was also more aggressive in the second half. Our strength and aggressiveness broke open the game and led to some breakaway lay-ups that broke their back."

Stritch would not get closer than 21 over the final minute-plus of regulation.

UWM used its size to establish a 45-26 advantage on the boards, including 16 rebounds on the offensive end. It also outshot CSU 41.8 percent to 36.7 and made it to the free throw line 19 more times. Milwaukee converted 19-of-24 free throw attempts, while Stritch got to the line just five times, making four.

The Wolves jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after a missed jumper and turnover on the first two Panther possessions. UWM then hit its next seven shot attempts during a 17-6 run to take the lead for good at 17-11 just over five minutes into the game.

Milwaukee would build its lead as high as 10 in the opening frame, but Stritch ended the half with a 7-2 run to make it a five-point game at the break, 33-28.

The Panthers close out 2007 in the final game of its current four-game homestand Monday. UWM hosts La Salle in a New Year's Eve matinee, tipping off at 1 p.m.