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Post-Game Wrap-Up | Tucker Post-Game Interview

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Feb. 3, 2011) - Sami Tucker scored 21 of her game-high 23 points in the first half, staking the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 23-point halftime advantage it would not relinquish in defeating Youngstown State, 81-66, Thursday evening at the Klotsche Center.

"It's nice to come home and take care of business," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "We had great balanced scoring and Sami Tucker really led the way. She was `en fuego' in the first half. We also held them to just 34 percent (shooting) and defensively did some nice things. It was a good win."

The Panthers (8-13, 5-5 Horizon) shot 58.1 percent in the first half and closed the frame on a 27-7 run to secure the win. The Penguins (3-18, 1-9 Horizon) outscored UWM, 38-30, in the second half, but could get no closer than 14.

Milwaukee put four players in double-figures, as Lindsay Laur narrowly missed a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Angela Rodriguez scored 15 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting and Courtney Lindfors added 11 points.

Tucker almost had a double-double of her own, chipping in nine rebounds in the game.

Brandi Brown, the league's leading scorer entering the game, led Youngstown State with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Tieara Jones had 15 points and nine boards and Bojana Dimitrov scored 10 points of her own.

A 7-0 YSU run on three-straight turnovers cut a 10-point Panther lead to just three at 24-21 with 8:45 remaining in the first half. Then, the Milwaukee offense caught fire. UWM quickly rattled off six-straight points and, after a Dimitrov three, had another 10-0 spurt. By halftime, the Panthers led, 51-38, and never looked back.

Tucker was 8-of-9 from the field in the half and made all four three-point attempts. Laur, meanwhile, had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the first 20 minutes.

For the game, Milwaukee shot an even 50 percent from the field and 10-of-20 from three-point range. UWM also outrebounded YSU, 40-32, and had 21 assists compared to 22 turnovers. The team finished with six blocked shots behind a career-best five by Jenilee Klomstad.

The Panthers got to the free throw line 23 times, converting 19 attempts. Laur was a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe to push her streak of consecutive free throws made to a school-record 28.

The Penguins finished the game shooting 34.3 percent from the field, including just 26.9 percent from beyond the arc, and went 13-for-17 at the free throw line. They came away with 16 steals in the game, all but two by the starting five and a game-high four from Jones.

Milwaukee continues a three-game homestand Saturday, hosting Cleveland State at the Klotsche Center. Tip-off is at 11 a.m.