Box Score
Post-Game Press Conference

GREEN BAY, Wis. (March 15, 2009) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team turned the ball over 28 times and could never get its offense on track in falling to Green Bay, 65-41, in the title game of the 2009 Speedway Horizon League Women's Championship.

The Panthers (15-18), playing their fifth game in nine days, became the third No. 7 seed to play in the league's championship game. The Phoenix (29-3), meanwhile, won for the 21st-straight time and will advance to the NCAA Tournament with the league's automatic bid.

"I'm really proud of our players," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham. "Walking in and seeing the (runner-up) hardware, who would've thought on Monday, when we started this tournament journey, that we'd be taking home some hardware. I want to give our players all the credit, building themselves into a championship game team."

Senior Traci Edwards scored a team-best in her final collegiate game and was named to the all-tournament team for the fourth time in her career. Sophomore Ashley Imperiale joined Edwards on the all-tournament team and finished the day with five points and five rebounds.

Three Panthers finished with six points apiece in senior Markita Barnes, junior Jodie McClain and sophomore Lindsay Laur.

Kati Harty had a game-high 12 points for Green Bay and was named tournament MVP. Kayla Tetschlag also scored 10 points, while two more players finished with nine. Lavesa Glover and Rachel Porath filled out the all-tournament team.

Milwaukee and Green Bay played a close game in the opening minutes, trading the lead four times. The Panthers last led at 9-8 on a McClain three-pointer with 13:52 to play in the half. The Phoenix then took the lead for good moments later, but led just 18-14 at 6:13 on an Imperiale three-point play.

From that point on, GB scored 18 of the game's next 20 points to take the game in hand. Each time Milwaukee put together back-to-back scoring possessions, the Phoenix would hit a three-point to keep the visitors at bay. The game would be separated by as high as 25.

"(We had) 20 turnovers in the first half and didn't get Traci the ball," Botham said. "(Green Bay) was just swarming. Green Bay's effort was great. They got great rotations, fronted the block and made things difficult. They just took us out of what we wanted to do."

The Panthers shot 42.9 percent from the field, but made just 2-of-9 three-pointers and was 9-of-16 from the free throw line. They also forged a rebounding advantage of 30-24.

Green Bay knocked down nine 3-pointers on 19 attempts on the day and shot 44.2 percent overall. The Phoenix also turned UWM's 28 turnovers into 28 points.

"They are a team that makes you pay," Botham said. "You can't make mistakes against a team like this because they will make them pay. Offensively, also. They have so many weapons. Credit goes to what (GB head coach) Matt (Bollant) has done. It's also the players buying in and executing."