Box Score |  Notes

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 11, 2009) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team scored the final 11 points of regulation to overcome a 10-point deficit with 2:50 to advance to the Horizon League Semifinals with a 53-52 win over Butler Wednesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

"I'm so proud of our players and their never-give-up attitude," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "It was a great team win. We were all in shock. We knew we could do it. We'd been in these situations before, but we all kind of looked at each other like `what just happened'."

The Panthers (14-17) will now play No. 3 Cleveland State in the semifinals at the site of the highest seed. The Bulldogs (19-11) must now await word on its post-season opportunities.

"At this point, it's all about adrenaline," Botham said. "To me, it's going to be the mentally toughest team that will win. Fatigue will certainly be a factor, but I think we have the confidence, momentum and some belief in each other. There's no pressure on us and our players are playing very loose and relaxed."

Laur had a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds and kick-started the final run with five-straight points. She was named the U.S. Army Horizon League Player of the Game. Senior Traci Edwards capped the run with 8.8 seconds remaining and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

"It was crazy," Sophomore Lindsay Laur said. "We haven't felt this good all season. It's a great feeling to beat Butler at their place and now we're playing Friday. We can't wait to play. We aren't done yet."

Brittany Bowen was Butler's lone double-digit scorer with 19 points. Susan Lester had nine points and eight boards.

Facing a 52-42 deficit heading into the final three minutes of regulation, Laur hit a basket with 2:50 remaining. She then converted an old-fashioned three-point play, senior Markita Barnes turned a steal into a fast-break lay-up and it was a 52-49 game with a minute to play.

"Credit Laur, she made some big plays," Botham said. "She had just a killer instinct from the beginning. That three-point play, the old-fashioned way, really jump-started us. And, Kita had that steal and driving lay-up, it was big. I'm just proud. We've been in this situation before and we've come back before. We knew our players had it in them to do it."

Butler missed a pair of free throws and the other end of the court Edwards hit a lay-up to make it a one-point game. Candyce Brown then missed a lay-up, with Laur pulling down the board to set up the final possession. After a UWM timeout, Barnes ran down the clock and the ball got to Edwards, who converted with 8.8 on the clock.

The Bulldogs called a timeout, leading to an off-balance jumper that fell into Laur's hands just before the horn.

Milwaukee hit its final five shots of the game to finish at 42.9 percent from the field, taking just eight 3-point attempts and making three. The Panthers forged a 42-24 advantage on the boards to off-set a 22-15 turnover discrepancy in favor of BU.

Butler shot 40.8 percent for the game, despite hovering around 60 percent for much of the second half. The Bulldogs buried 7-of-17 from three-point range and came up with 18 steals and five blocked shots.

The Panther offense sputtered to start the second half as they lost their 27-26 halftime lead. As mentioned, Butler shot better then 60 percent for much of the second half, taking the lead and building it as high as 10 on two occasions. The second of those came just before the final run.