Box Score |  Notes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Jan. 29, 2009) - Valparaiso had an extended 42-11 run and got 26 points from Aimee Litka in handing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team an 83-65 loss Thursday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (8-11, 3-5 Horizon) trailed by as many as 27, but managed to cut that deficit to 12 before fading down the stretch. The Crusaders (10-8, 5-3 Horizon) made 9-of-15 three-pointers on the night and shot 56 percent from the field for the game.

"I'm disappointed. Valpo set the tone," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "They came in a pushed us around. That has been our Achilles' heel all season. We lose our focus and our determination. They came out, shot very well and we lost focus and didn't respond. We'd force turnovers, get stops, and then just give it back."

Senior Traci Edwards scored 30 points, pulled down 16 boards and blocked three shots, but it was not enough as no other Panther reached double figures. Senior Markita Barnes added a UWM career-high nine points and junior Jodie McClain finished with eight.

Litka was a one-woman show in the first half, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 21 points before the break. Milwaukee focused on her a bit more in the second half and held her to five points in the frame, including just one 3. Launa Hochstetler scored 18 points and Agnieszka Kulaga tallied 15 for Valpo.

Carrying a 48-28 lead out of halftime, the Crusaders went back to work with a 9-2 run to start the second half. From that point on, the Panthers began chipping away at Valparaiso's lead. Edwards fueled a 20-7 run with 10 points to make it a 64-50 game with 9:57 to play.

Barnes then keyed a 9-3 run moments later to make it just a 12-point game at 71-59 when she hit a three-pointer at 5:02. From that point on, six-straight Valpo points stymied the Panthers and, after an Edwards lay-up and McClain three, six more points by the visitors were the nail in the coffin.

"We've been very inconsistent in many areas," Botham said. "We don't know what we have on any given night. We need a solid, consistent rotation (in order to win these games)."

The Panthers fought back in the second half to make it a game, forcing 13 turnovers in the frame. On the other hand, they shot just 37.5 percent in the second half and allowed Valpo to shoot 52.6 percent and maintain its hold on the contest.

For the game, Milwaukee shot 41.4 percent, but hit on just 5-of-21 three-point attempts and 12-of-18 from the free throw line. It grabbed 19 offensive boards and finished with a 36-27 rebound advantage.

Things went smoothly for the Panthers out of the gates, as they were shooting well over 60 percent and leading 19-15 with 12:51 to play in the first half. From that point on, it was all Valparaiso and Litka. The Crusaders ended the half on a 31-9 run, keyed by 16 Litka points.

"When it rained, it poured," Botham said. "They are a good shooting team and we were unable to stop the bleeding early. We made a valiant comeback, but it wasn't enough."

For the half, Valparaiso shot 58.1 percent, knocking down 6-of-9 three-pointers, and coming away with 11 steals. The Panthers shot a respectable 46.2 percent, but turned the ball over 15 times, which led to 20 Valpo points.

The Panthers remain at home through a four-game home stand, next hosting Butler Saturday. The game tips off at 2 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.