Box Score |  Notes

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Feb. 28, 2009) - Sophomore Lindsay Laur had 17 points and 14 rebounds and senior Traci Edwards had 15 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team fell to Valparaiso, 67-64, Saturday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Panthers (12-16, 7-10 Horizon) led at halftime, but saw their offense sputter in the second half in falling to the Crusaders (15-12, 9-7 Horizon) in its second-straight three-point game.

"I thought we gave them a good fight, but mentally there was a lapse at the start of the second half," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "Mentally, I thought we lost our poise. I thought we were able to regroup and get back and make a fight of it. It was that little bit of a stretch where we were not good enough. We can't afford to have those mental breakdowns and expect to win."

Milwaukee had two players post double-doubles for the third time this season, while sophomore Jenilee Klomstad nearly made it a third with 11 points and eight boards. Junior Jodie McClain chipped in nine points to go with five assists.

"It's exciting to see Lindsay play as well. I thought played with great urgency," Botham said. "Jenilee is really coming on and that's exciting. We knew that was a strength of ours, our inside game. I thought we exploited it well. I thought we could have gotten more post touches."

Lauren Kenney posted a game-high 26 points to lead Valpo. Agnieszka Kulaga had 17 points and Aimee Litka finished with 17.

The Panthers closed the first half on a 10-2 run to bring a 29-26 lead into the intermission. After hitting the first basket of the second half, UWM conceded a 16-5 Valpo run to give the Crusaders the lead for good at 42-36 with 12:51 to play.

Klomstad made it a 44-40 game with 12:09 to play, but Milwaukee would not hit another field goal for 5:41. Despite five turnovers and two missed shots between field goals, the game was just 49-44 when Laur ended the stretch with a layup.

But, it would be another 4:40 before Laur hit the team's next field goal at 1:48, a three-pointer to make it 60-55. UWM remained in the game with eight-straight free throws. The Crusaders then fended the Panthers off down the stretch for the win.

Milwaukee shot 40.4 percent from the field for the game, including 6-of-18 free throw line. It also made 16-of-19 from the free throw line for an 84.2 percent clip. The Panthers also forged a 43-30 advantage on the boards in an attempt to off-set 19 turnovers.

Valpo held on to the ball with just eight miscues, but was limited to 39 percent shooting and just 22.7 percent from three-point range. The Crusaders did finish from the charity stripe, knocking down 16 of their 22 attempts.

"It was a physical game. I thought that was what showed up on the stats," Botham said. "I thought Lauren Kenney was really the player of the game. She got 10 out of 12 free throws and proved to be the big difference in the game. I thought we contained their guards well."

UWM returns to action in its regular season finale March 7 at Green Bay.