Box Score

MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 4, 2007) - The University of Wisconsin used a 19-3 run early in the second half to take control of a tight game and hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team a 79-59 loss Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.

The Panthers (2-4) led by as many as seven in the first half, but could not get their offense going in the second half in falling to the Badgers (4-3) for the 11th-straight time.

"We knew they were going come in the second half and turn up the defensive pressure and they did that," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "We missed some early defensive assignments and got down quick. Against a team like this, we can't afford that. It was a good learning experience for our players."

Junior Traci Edwards paced three UWM players in double figures with 17 points and 10 rebounds for her third-straight double-double. Senior Aubri Rote added 13 points and junior Turquoise McCain 10 before fouling out with 1:58 remaining.

Janese Banks scored a game-high 23 points for Wisconsin, while she was joined in double figures by Jolene Anderson with 11 points and Danielle Ward with 10.

After a quick Panther basket to start the second half, the Badgers rattled off a 19-3 run to take control of the game at 51-37 with 14:18 to play. UWM had trouble getting their offense on track after the break, getting the bulk of its scoring from the free throw line.

Wisconsin built a lead of as many as 19 at 76-57 before both teams cleared their bench.

The Panthers looked like they might be able to fight back, cutting the deficit to 10 early in the half and 12 after a Botham technical foul.

Botham earned the technical foul with 6:01 to play with Milwaukee down 68-49 and UWM rattled off seven-straight points on pull-up jumpers by Rote and sophomore Jodie McClain and a three-pointer by junior Emily Markert. The run made it a 12-point game at 68-56. That was as close at it would get the remainder of the game.

The Panthers shot just 29.2 percent in the second half to pull their game percentage to 35.8 percent, while they turned the ball over 22 times. UWM was also outrebounded 43-33 after dominating the boards in the early goings of the game.

The Milwaukee defense struggled after the break, allowing the Badgers to finish the game at 45.7 percent, but with just one 3-pointer on 10 attempts. The Panthers attempted to keep it close from the free throw line, hitting 16-of-20 attempts from the charity stripe, but in the end it was not enough.

Milwaukee forced Wisconsin to play catch up throughout the first half, leading by seven twice and by six once. Each time, however, the Badgers were able to fight back and tie the score. The game was tied seven times throughout the opening half, while the Panthers did not trail after conceding the game's first basket.

"I was pleased with our first half performance, we played them even," Botham said. "Last year we came in here and did not score (until 10:36 to go) in the first half. So, it was great to see our players battle early. They executed the game plan well defensively and I thought they really fought and made a game of it."

UWM's last seven-point lead came after a 9-2 run led to a 32-25 lead with 1:43 to play. The Badgers ended the half on a 7-0 run to force a 32-32 tie heading into the break.

The Panthers continue their road swing Saturday at Central Michigan. UWM and CMU tip off at 3 p.m.