Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Dec. 10, 2009) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team erased a 10-point second-half deficit, but did not hit a field goal over the final 4:42 of regulation in falling to Northern Iowa, 68-59, Thursday evening at the McLeod Center.

The loss was the third-straight for UWM (4-4), which trailed 42-32 just over a minute into the second half. UNI (3-5) closed the game on an 11-2 run to provide for the final score.

"This is a game, I'm proud of our kids' efforts. They never gave up," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We really persevered some of the adversities we faced and put ourselves in position (to win). We just didn't close the deal."

Junior Lindsay Laur led Milwaukee with 18 points and eight rebounds, while senior Jodie McClain tallied 17 points before fouling out with 37 seconds remaining. The duo combined to go 7-of-8 from three-point range. Junior Jenilee Klomstad added 10 points and freshman Sami Tucker posted her second-straight near double-double with eight points and 10 boards.

Jacqui Kalin was one of two Northern Iowa players with over 20 points, scoring a game-high 25. She hit five 3-pointers in the game and converted six-straight free throws down the stretch for the home team. Milwaukee-native Lizzie Boeck chipped in 20 points off the bench.

UWM trailed 40-32 at halftime and 42-32 with 18:50 remaining. The Panthers whittled away at that deficit, using a 16-7 run to tie the game at 57-57 with 4:42 to play in the game. Tucker answered a UNI layup with two free throws to keep the score tied at 59-59, but Milwaukee would not score again.

The Panthers of Northern Iowa got a three from Nicole Clausen to take the lead for good and got the ball to Kalin to absorb the fouls down the stretch and seal the victory.

Offensive boards and turnovers killed UWM all night long. UNI finished with 19 offensive rebounds and converted those into 17 points. Milwaukee also turned the ball over 22 times, with just seven coming on steals, and conceded 24 points off those miscues.

Milwaukee shot a solid 46.8 percent for the game and made 7-of-13 from three-point range behind Laur and McClain's efforts. The team was also 8-for-14 from the charity stripe. Northern Iowa shot 42.4 percent for the game and made nine 3's on 22 attempts.

The home team also forged a 35-32 rebounding advantage and made 9-of-14 free throws, but all six when it counted.

An 11-2 run gave UWM a four-point lead midway through the first half at 21-17. The visiting Panthers came out on fire, shooting better than 60 percent for much of the early going. They were then bit by the turnover bug, allowing UNI to take control with a 30-7 run that lasted until late in the opening half.

Milwaukee returns home after four-straight road games Sunday, hosting Chicago State at the Klotsche Center at 4 p.m.