Box Score |  Notes

GREEN BAY, Wis. (March 9, 2007) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to force overtime and sophomore Jody Crumble posted the first triple-double in school history, but it was not enough as the Panthers fell to No. 22 UW-Green Bay, 84-79, in the Horizon League Semifinals Friday evening in Green Bay.

The Phoenix (27-3) won its 24th-straight game and now advances to the league championship game Sunday vs. Butler. Milwaukee, meanwhile, finishes the season at 15-16, its first losing season since the 1998-99 season.

Crumble finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Traci Edwards added 23 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Juniors Meredith Onson and Aubri Rote also reached double-digits for the third time in the last four games, with Onson tallying 17 and Rote 11.

Natalie Berglin scored 21 points to lead four UWGB players in double-figures. Nicole Soulis added 19, Kayla Groh 14 and Rachel Porath 10.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation, but the Panthers turned the ball over with 21.2 seconds left and the Phoenix failed to get a quality shot and had to rely on a desperation heave by Kayla Groh in the final seconds.

"Our team really thought we could get it," Edwards said. "They made the plays at the end. It's really rough for us to go out this way but if you're going to lose, this probably the way we want to go out."

The Panthers shot 40.6 percent from the field for the game, hitting 10-of-30 three-pointers and hitting 13 of their 15 free throw attempts. They also held a 49-34 rebounding and allowed UWGB just eight assists. The Phoenix finished the game shooting 44.3 percent, but turned the ball over just six times.

Milwaukee fought back from a 30-23 halftime deficit to take a 33-32 lead just over three minutes into the second half. Onson scored the first five points of teh Panthers' 10-2 run to start the half. But, each time UWM took the lead Green Bay had an answer as the team's ended regulation knotted at 66-66.

The game featured 13 lead changes and five ties, but in the end the Phoenix held out for the victory. Turnovers on UWM's first two overtime possessions led to GB baskets and, after two Onson free throws, Porath drained a lead to make it 73-68 with 3:35 to play.

"They made big shots in the overtime and it's something they've been doing all year," Milwaukee coach Sandy Botham said.

UWM pulled within two on a pair of occasions but, after Soulis hit a lay-up senior Aubrey Hampton had a three-point attempt blocked with 19 seconds to play and the Phoenix hit four-straight free throws to put the game out of reach.