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Post-Game Wrap-Up

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Dec. 31, 2010) - Lindsay Laur had career-bests of 26 points, six 3-pointers and 17 rebounds, while the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team cut a 19-point second-half deficit to just two late before falling to Wright State, 77-73, Friday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (3-9, 0-1 Horizon), who lost for the seventh-straight time, trailed 62-43 on a Molly Fox three-pointer with 12:39 to play in the game before staging a late comeback for the fourth-straight game. As was the case three other times, the Raiders' (8-4, 1-0 Horizon) lead was too much to overcome.

"We have got to learn to put two halves together," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We came out of the blocks weak. We were just back on our heels, not aggressive and thinking too much. When our backs are against the wall, it seems that's when we really start to play with a sense of urgency. Our players need to have a sense of urgency from the tip and that's got to come from within."

Milwaukee tied a school record with 15 three-pointers, but it was when they got their inside game rolling that they began cutting into that lead. Angela Rodriguez finished with 13 points, hitting a big three to make it a two-point game in the final seconds. No other Panther hit double-figures, as Alex Klawitter hit three 3's for nine points.

Fox led Wright State with 26 points and 14 rebounds. LaShawna Thomas, the Horizon league's leading scorer coming into the game (17.6 ppg), had 20 points and nine assists. Shaunda Sandifier chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers' comeback spanned the latter half of the second period and came out to a 30-13 run. Klawitter kick-started it with a three and Laur followed with a layup. After the teams traded baskets, Rodriguez converted a three-point play and Courtney Lindfors followed with a layup. The teams' then traded baskets once more before a 10-1 run made it 75-73. This run was capped by Rodriguez's aforementioned three-pointer.

Maria Bennett then made a pair of free throws to make it a four-point game and Kimee Chandler's three-pointer was blocked before the buzzer.

UWM finished the game shooting 27-for-74 (.365) and 15-for-34 on three-pointers. Its 15 threes tied a school record originally set in a game against Detroit Jan. 17, 2009. The attempts are the second-most in a game in school history. The Panthers also had 16 assists to eight turnovers.

The Raiders shot 44.9 percent for the game, connecting on just 7-of-25 from three-point range. Milwaukee did a good job of limiting their three-point shooting duo of Bennett and Courtney Boyd to just 3-for-16 shooting. The pair combined for 5.8 three-pointers per game coming in.

Behind Fox and Sandifer, WSU forged a 46-41 rebounding advantage. The Panthers picked up their rebounding late and finished with 15 offensive boards, but Wright State had a 20-8 edge in second chance points.

Both teams also turned the ball over eight times each tied a pair of school marks set Jan. 23, 2010. Milwaukee's eight tied the school mark for fewest in a game, while the 16 tied the mark for fewest combined turnovers in a game.

The game was a shootout to start as both teams traded baskets at a frenetic pace heading into the first media timeout. Seven of Milwaukee's first eight made baskets were three-pointers, including a stretch of five-straight made treys. That streak was capped with back-to-back Laur threes and staked UWM to a 17-13 lead.

Wright State answered with a 21-6 run to take the lead for good and put the game seemingly out of reach at 35-23. The Raiders would lead 45-33 at halftime.

Milwaukee returns to action in 2011, hosting Detroit at the Klotsche Center Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.