Box Score |  Notes
Post-Game Press Conference (Sandy Botham, Traci Edwards)

Milwaukee, Wis. (Jan. 15, 2009) - Shay Peddy had 24 points, seven assists and six steals to lead Wright State past the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Thursday evening at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (6-9, 1-3 Horizon) fell for the third time in four games since starting league play by shooting just 35 percent from the field and turning the ball over 30 times.

"I'm obviously disappointed we didn't get the `W', but we had different combinations out there," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "That's something we're working through, the new combinations that we have. Steph Schell I thought played some inspired basketball. Alex Klawitter came in. We had a group out there that hasn't played consistently. Cut the gap to six and just weren't able to get over the hump. That's our story."

The Raiders (7-9, 3-2 Horizon) overcame 28 turnovers by shooting 44.7 percent from the field, including 8-for-14 from three-point range.

"I thought our press was effective," Botham said. "Defensively, we've been doing some good things, forcing 28 turnovers. If you look at a stat like, you'd typically think you'd be on the winning end. Obviously we were unable to finish. We need to do a better job of hanging on to the ball. I thought our pressure kept us in and closed the gap and really forced them into making poor decisions."

Senior Traci Edwards led Milwaukee with 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Sophomore Lindsay Laur added 11 points, while junior Jodie McClain came away with five steals.

Aside from Peddy's gaudy stat line, LaShawna Thomas added 18 points as the only other Raider in double figures. Charne Dixon chipped in with seven points, while coming away with five steals.

Wright State shut down UWM from the start of the game, holding the home team without a field goal for nearly nine minutes at one point in building a 23-8 lead by the 6:26 mark of the first half. Just when the Panthers seemed to get their offense going with eight-straight points, the Raiders ended the half on a 7-1 run to take a 31-14 lead into overtime.

Coming out of the break, it took a while for either team to muster much offense. But when they did, it appeared that Milwaukee was primed for a late-game rally.

Trailing 34-17 just over four minutes into the second half, Edwards hit a lay-up that started an 11-0 Panther run. Laur accounted for seven-straight points and, after a Thomas jumper ended the run, she added another basket to make it 38-32 at the 7:52 mark.

But, after drawing an offensive foul, Edwards was assessed a technical foul and the Raiders capitalized. Peddy buried the impending free throws and after three UWM turnovers, drilled a three-pointer to make it 45-33 at 4:36.

"They hit big shots," Botham said. "We had a lot of good looks at the basket, but we just didn't knock them down. Turnovers are our Achilles' heel. They came out and pressured us well and we just did not do a good job taking care of the basketball. It's all about possessions."

The Raiders would build their lead as high as 20 in rolling to the victory.

UWM returns to the court Saturday, hosting Detroit at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers and Titans tip off at 2 p.m.