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Post-Game Wrap-Up

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Nov. 27, 2010) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team opened the game on a 26-8 run and held off Western Illinois a couple of times in rolling to a 70-55 victory Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (3-2) had four players in double-figures, and another at nine points, led by Lindsay Laur's 20 points and 17 rebounds. Sammy Theut and Sammy Tucker added 12 points apiece, while Jenilee Klomstad contributed 11 points and three blocks in her 2010-11 debut.

"(This was) the first game of a three-game home series, so it's nice to come out with a `W' over a scrappy Western Illinois team," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We fought and got some leads, but our goal is to play consistent for 40 minutes. I thought Western really fought back, but we found away. We shot better in the second half and did what we needed to do."

Angela Rodriguez had nine and Anne Breland scored six to round out Milwaukee's scoring.

The Leathernecks (0-5) were led by Michele Salvatori's 17 points. Jackie Rieger added 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Milwaukee scored the first 10 points on its way to a 20-5 run to open the game. After a WIU three-pointer, Breland then buried back-to-back three-pointers to make it a 26-8 game. The Panthers never trailed, but had to fend off a few Leatherneck rallies to get the victory, most notable later in the first half.

After Breland's second three-pointer, Western went on a 17-2 run to cut UWM's lead to just three at 28-25 inside the final minute of the half. Milwaukee then scored the game's next seven points, including the first five of the second half, to push its lead back to 10 points at 35-25.

The Leathernecks would get no closer than six points the remainder of the game, as another 12-2 Panther run made it a 16-point game at 9:19 in the second half. UWM then scored nine of the game's final 11 points to close the game and seal the victory.

After shooting 22 percent in a win last Sunday, Milwaukee came out of the blocks on fire. The Panthers made 7-of-10 to start the game before cooling off, hitting on 6-of-21 the remainder of the half. They then shot 61.9 percent in the second half to finish at 50 percent shooting for the game. UWM made 6-of-16 three-point tries and was 12-for-16 at the free throw line.

Behind Laur's 17 boards, the Panthers held a sizable 44-30 rebounding advantage. They also finished with a season-best 10 steals, behind five from Rodriguez. UWM did commit 21 turnovers, helping the Leathernecks hang around for much of the game.

WIU shot 35.5 percent in the game, hitting eight 3-pointers on 21 tries, but converting just 3-of-10 at the free throw line. The visitors committed 15 turnovers and came away with 12 steals.

Milwaukee returns to action Wednesday, hosting Bradley in the second game of a three-game homestand. The Panthers and Braves tip off at 7 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.