Box Score |  Notes

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Feb. 26, 2009) - Senior Traci Edwards had 20 points and 14 rebounds and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team had two potential game-tying three-pointers miss the mark as time expired in overtime in falling to Butler, 74-71, Thursday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Panthers (12-15, 7-9 Horizon) trailed by as many 12 in the first half, but led for much of the second half before falling to the Bulldogs (17-9, 12-4 Horizon) in the extra period.

"We had a great effort. I wish we just had another minute left," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "I'm just really proud of our kids' effort, their fight, their poise. We just didn't make enough plays. We missed key free throws and just didn't make plays down the stretch. Give Butler credit, they made the plays and we didn't.

"I'm proud of our kids. If we play with that kind of effort, we could still achieve a Horizon League Tournament Championship."

Trailing by three coming out of a timeout with 6.6 seconds remaining in overtime, sophomore Lindsay Laur saw her off-balance three-point attempt come up shy. Senior Markita Barnes then had her three-pointer glance off the side of the rim as time expired.

"I thought (Markita's) shot was going in from where I was," Botham said. "Our kids never gave up, stayed with it. Their poise was great, we just didn't get some calls (to go our way) here or layups to fall there. But, we put ourselves in a great position to beat Butler. These are the kinds of losses you can live with."

Laur joined Edwards in double-figures with 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Jenilee Klomstad added 10 points and Barnes finished with nine points and eight boards. Senior Turquoise McCain chipped in eight points to go with seven rebounds.

"Our goal was to be aggressive and get to the paint. Whether it be off a drive or off paint touches," Botham said. "I thought Jenilee's presence was great. I thought Traci played a great second half. Our aggressiveness paid off, but if just needed to have adjusted to their aggressiveness on blocking shots, by using jump stops."

Brittany Bowen led Butler with 20 points. Melanie Thornton scored 14 and Susan Lester finished with 11.

The Bulldogs took control of the game early in the first half, building a 12-point lead at 27-15 with 4:17 to play in the frame. UWM's offense picked up from there with a 10-4 run to end the half and make it a 31-25 game at the half. BU turned 12 Panther turnovers into 16 points and make 5-of-12 threes in the half.

Milwaukee opened the second half on a 15-6 run to take the lead at 40-37 on an Edwards three-pointer with 13:15 to play. From that point on, UWM fended the home team off from the free throw line, scoring 10-straight of its points at the charity stripe and going without a field goal for 7:37. When Laur ended that stretch with a layup at 5:38, her team led 53-49.

A 6-0 Butler run made it a back-and-forth game down the stretch with the game heading to overtime tied at 61-61. In that extra frame, old fashioned three-point plays on back-to-back Bulldog possessions proved to be enough.

As evidenced by four players with at least seven rebounds, the Panthers were dominant on the boards. They had a +19 rebounding margin (53-34) and converted 22 offensive boards into 17 points. That helped to offset 38.7 percent shooting and just 2-of-11 from three-point range. UWM was able to get to the free throw line, attempting 29 and making 21.

The Bulldogs were no stranger to the free throw line, making 31 trips and converting 26 times. Their offense sputtered for much of the second half, as BU was held to 1-of-13 shooting to start the second half. For the game, Butler shot 33.3 percent and 6-of-19 from three-point range despite 1-of-7 shooting after halftime.

UWM continues their road trip at Valparaiso Saturday. The Panthers and Crusaders tip off at 1:35 p.m. central time.