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Post-Game Wrap-Up | Laur Post-Game Radio Interview

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Feb. 5, 2011) - Sami Tucker had 18 points and 12 rebounds and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team went 25-for-30 at the free throw line to overcome an 11-point first-half deficit and defeat Cleveland State, 73-64, Saturday morning at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (9-13, 6-5 Horizon) trailed by as many as 11 in the opening half, but went on an 18-4 to take the lead and closed the game on a 12-2 run to pull off the victory over the Vikings (12-9, 5-6 Horizon).

"We're so happy and proud of our Panthers," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "They played a great second half. It's great to know we were in the game, only down four at halftime, and came out like gang busters in the second half. We had great emotion, played great basketball and made plays down the stretch when we needed to. I was just thrilled. This was an important, key game."

Tucker picked up her second double-double of the season and was one of two UWM players scoring in double-figures. Lindsay Laur had a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds, while Courtney Lindfors and Angela Rodriguez each scored eight points.

Janelle Adams scored 16 points to lead the Vikings. Shawnita Garland had 13 points and four steals before fouling out, while Shalonda Winton and Honesty King finished with 11 points apiece. Winton collected a double-double with a game-high 13 rebounds.

After trailing by as many as 11 in the first half, Milwaukee led for much of the second period, which was within one or two possessions throughout. It trailed 62-61 at the 3:23 mark of the second half when Lindfors drew a foul and Garland then fouled out with a technical foul. Laur hit two technical fouls free throws and Lindfors hit one of her two to put UWM ahead for good, 64-62.

Over the final stretch of the game, the Panthers limited CSU to 1-for-6 shooting and forced a pair of turnovers. Meanwhile, they hit 9-of-12 at the free throw line and Laur buried a key three-pointer at 1:37 to secure the win.

Milwaukee finished 25-for-30 from the free throw line, its second-most attempts and makes in a game this season. Laur was 8-for-8 herself, extending her school-record made free throw streak to 36-straight. From the field, UWM shot 38.9 percent and made 6-of-16 from beyond the arc. The team also fought for a 43-40 rebounding advantage.

The Vikings shot just 27.5 percent in the second half to finish at 37.3 percent for the game. They had shot nearly 52 percent in the first half to hold a 36-32 lead at halftime. CSU made just 6-of-26 three-point tries for the game and attempted just 12 free throws, making eight.

Cleveland's energy and defensive pressure looked too much for UWM to start the game, as the visitors rattled off 10-straight points for an early 10-3 lead. Each time the Panthers fought back, CSU would go on another run. Down 24-13 at the 9:01 mark of the first half, Milwaukee scored seven-straight points to make it a four-point game.

After an 8-2 Viking run made it a 10-point game, the Panthers went on an 18-4 run over the end of the first half and start of the second to take the lead, 40-36 at 16:35. The game then became a back-and-forth contest with seven ties and six lead changes over the next 13-plus minutes before UWM took the lead for good.

The Panthers return to action next week with a two-game swing through Chicago. The trip starts with a Thursday evening game at Loyola. Milwaukee then returns to the Second City Saturday to take on UIC.