Box Score
Box Score |
Quotes |
Notes
CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 23, 2010) -
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team set a school record with just eight turnovers and had four players reach double-figures as it defeated Loyola, 80-66, Saturday afternoon at the Gentile Center.
The Panthers (8-10, 3-4 Horizon) topped 70 points for the first time since Dec. 13 and have now won back-to-back games for the first time since Nov. 25-28. The Ramblers (10-9, 4-4 Horizon) had won four-of-five, including an upset over No. 14 Green Bay on Thursday.
"I'm just so thriled, so excited for our (team). They played a flawless game, offensively and defensively," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We had a great defensive game plan. Offensively, our kids did a great job of taking what the defense gives them and knocking down open shots. They made plays on offense, too. It was a great team victory."
Junior Ashley Imperiale led Milwaukee with 21 points, while junior Lindsay Laur added 19. Sophomore Danielle Jorgenson tied her career high with 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Freshman Sami Tucker finished with 10 points and seven boards.
Sophomore Alex Klawitter chipped in with eight points, all in the first half, and senior Jodie McClain had eight points and eight assists in the game.
Keisha Collins had 16 points to lead Loyola. Shannon Finnegan and Ellen Ayoub had 10 points apiece, while two more Ramblers had eight points each.
The game started off as a shootout that Milwaukee was able to take control of by the end of the first half. After seven lead changes over the first 17 minutes of the game, Loyola had a 35-32 lead on a Jessica Hylton three-pointer with 2:20 to go in the half. UWM then closed the half on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good and it never looked back.
Milwaukee was efficient on offense, shooting 50 percent for the game and turning the ball over just eight times compared to 16 assists. The team also got to the free throw line 24 times, making a season-best 20, and won the battle of the boards, 34-29. It was the first time in nine games that the Panthers outrebounded their opponent.
Loyola shot 44.3 percent, making just 5-of-18 from three-point range. The Ramblers came into the game averaging better than seven made three's per game. Maggie McCloskey, one of the nation's most prolific three-point shooters, was limited to just two makes on five attempts. LU also turned the ball over just eight times.
The Panthers have found comfort at the Gentile Center in recent years, cracking 80 points in a game for the fourth-straight year. Over the last five games at Loyola, Milwaukee has shot a combined 49.6 percent and averaged 80.6 points per game.
The previous low for turnovers in a game was nine, last accomplished March 2, 2006, against the Ramblers in the Horizon League Quarterfinals.
UWM returns home to host Valparaiso Thursday at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers and Crusaders tip off at 7 p.m.