Dec. 15, 2011

Box Score | "Player of the Game" Postgame Audio | Postgame Report

MILWAUKEE - Sophomore Courtney Lindfors scored 24 points and classmate Angela Rodriguez added 23 to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team cruise to a 79-48 victory over Chicago State University Thursday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (3-6) never trailed the Cougars (1-11) and shot a season-high 50 percent (30-for-60) from the floor. Lindfors season-best point total was complimented by a double-double of 11 rebounds and a career-best six blocked shots. Rodriguez's 23 points was also a season-high, shooting 7-for-11 from the floor while making five three-pointers.

"It's good to be home," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "To start a five-game homestand now with a `W' is really important for us. To have that inside-outside balance with Courtney and Angela was good. And we were sharing the ball. We were making the extra pass and finding the open person and I think that had been something we struggled with. It was good to shoot the ball well and get a victory."

Milwaukee was in control from the start and held its biggest halftime cushion of the season at 44-29. The duo of Lindfors (20) and Rodriguez (17) combined for 37 of the team's 44 first-half points, shooting a combined 13-of-19 from the floor. The 20-point half for Lindfors marked the first time a UWM player had scored at least 20 in a half since Lindfors accomplished the same a year ago - netting 22 in the second half against CSU November 16 of last season.

"I thought Courtney really held her own against Baylor and Oklahoma, so it was good to see her come out with this type of performance," Botham said. "The emphasis was to go inside. We knew there was a mismatch there and when you establish your inside game that just opens up the perimeter. When you have that kind of balance it makes it difficult to stop."

UWM doubled up CSU on rebounds, 46-to-23, including a 15-to-6 edge on the offensive glass. In addition to Lindfors 11, freshman Ashley Green had eight and the trio of junior Sami Tucker and freshmen Kiki Wilson and Macie Dorow each added five apiece.

"We talked about being relentless rebounders," Botham said. "We hadn't won the rebounding war these past eight games, so it was good for us to come out and really dominate on the boards and not allow them second-shot opportunities. I was really pleased. That was a big goal of ours and we were able to accomplish that tonight."

The Panthers were up big at the half but kept the foot on the gas pedal, scoring 17 of the first 21 points of the second half. Tucker's basket with 13:20 left made it 61-33 and allowed Botham to play her reserves at length most of the second half.

UWM ended the night with 26 assists - just off the school record of 28 - including an impressive 16 assists on 16 made field goals in the first half. The first non-assisted hoop by Milwaukee was scored on a put-back by Lindfors about a minute into the second half.

"We talk about being `One Team, One Beat' and by sharing the ball and getting your teammates good shots is just as important as you getting good shots and finishing," Botham said.

The Panthers built an early 14-point advantage at 26-12 on a fastbreak three-pointer by Rodriguez, forcing a Cougar timeout with seven minutes left in the half. Chicago State responded a bit, going on a 10-3 run that got the Cougars back into the game at 29-22 with 5:29 remaining.

That was when Rodriguez and Lindfors took over, combining for 13 of UWM's final 15 points of the half to grow the lead to as many as 17 before a couple of Chicago State free throws trimmed the deficit to 15 at intermission.

Tucker gave Milwaukee three players in double-figures with 10 points. Green added seven assists to go along with her eight rebounds, while Wilson added a season-high seven assists as well. Rodriguez's final stat line included three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The defense played well overall, forcing 21 turnovers and limiting the Cougars to 32.7 percent (17-for-52) shooting from the floor, including just 24 percent (6-for-25) in the second half.

The Panthers remain at home this week, hosting Toledo Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Klotsche Center.