Box Score |  Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Nov. 13, 2009) - Junior Lindsay Laur had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead four players in double-figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team opened the 2009-10 regular season with a 77-68 win over Evansville Friday evening at Roberts Stadium.

The Panthers (1-0) shot over 50 percent for the game and converted 19-of-22 from the free throw line in the win. They also limited the Purple Aces (0-1) to 32.5 percent shooting.

"This was a good win for us to start the year with a `W' on the road. It was a good confidence booster," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "We shot extremely well and were really aggressive. Our goal was to attack, get to the rim and create opportunities. We knew the lid was going to come off (the basket) at some point. We had great looks in both of the (exhibition) games, but we couldn't get a rhythm. It was good to get it going in the first game that counted."

In addition to Laur's double-double, junior Ashley Imperiale had 13 points and junior Jenilee Klomstad scored 11 points to go with seven rebounds and two blocks. Senior Jodie McClain finished with 11 points and eight assists, while sophomore almost made it five players, finishing with nine points of her own.

"Four players in double-figures, almost five, is great balance," Botham said. "Jodie Mac was our player of the game. This is one of the best games she has played for us. She controlled the ball well, created, led the team and was really a catalyst out there for us. Ashley was `steady Eddy' for us and gave us some quality minutes. They gave us some great leadership out on the floor."

Jordan Lewis had a team-high 12 points for homestanding Evansville. Kaylan Martin joined her in double-digits with 11.

The teams came out of halftime tied at 37-37, but the Panthers began to pull away and eventually lead by a game-high 17 points at 73-56 with 3:16 to play. The Aces forced five turnovers after that point to whittle their final deficit to nine.

"We kept them in the game in the first half with our turnovers," Botham said. "In the second half we controlled the boards much better and, I thought, controlled the half. It was a great win. Everybody played a great role."

Milwaukee shot 50.9 percent from the field despite 4-of-16 shooting from three-point range. Its efficient free throw night (86.4 percent) also helped as it overcame 25 turnovers. The Panthers also forged a 46-39 rebounding advantage.

Evansville came away with 15 steals and committed just 11 turnovers, but could not bounce back from the poor shooting performance.

UWM conceded the first bucket of the game, but came back with an 11-2 run over the first three-plus minutes of the game for an 11-4 early lead. The Panthers would lead by as many as eight before Evansville fought back for a brief two-point lead before halftime.

Milwaukee returns to the court Sunday at SIU Edwardsville. The Panthers and Cougars tip off at noon.