Jan. 14, 2012

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Junior Sami Tucker tied her career-high with 23 points and freshman Ashley Green scored all 11 of her points in the final six minutes of regulation, but it was not enough as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team lost a 75-72 heartbreaker in overtime to Wright State University Saturday at the Nutter Center.

WSU's Kim Demmings set a new Horizon League season-high with 38 points, none more important than a dramatic three-pointer from the left wing at the buzzer that sent the game into overtime.

"It was a tough one, because I thought that we did everything we needed to do to get a victory but just didn't execute down the stretch," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "We had a lead with a minute left and Demmings took over. I was proud of our kids. I was proud of how they responded and they competed. They really came in with some fortitude and some toughness and put themselves in position to beat a very good Wright State team."

Freshman Janna Swopshire, making her first collegiate start, finished a rebound short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Tucker set a career-high with five made three-pointers and also added eight rebounds. Molly Fox chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds as the only other Wright State player in double-figures.

The Panthers (4-11, 0-5 Horizon League) led by four at halftime before the Raiders (12-6, 5-1 Horizon League)) would take a second-half lead of their own. Milwaukee regained control and led late, but a 10-2 WSU run in the final two minutes of regulation tied the game.

Green calmly sank a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left to give UWM a 67-64 lead, but that only set the stage for Demmings heroics.

Wright State scored the first four points of OT and held on from there, with Milwaukee getting a pair of chances to tie at the end but missing on a pair of three-pointers, including one at the buzzer.

"As disappointing as it is to come off with a loss, this is a game we can build on and our players understand what they need to do to do successful," Botham said.

In a game that featured four ties and six lead changes, the Panthers broke a 43-43 tie on a three by Tucker at the 10:41 mark. After going up by as many as six, Demmings cut the WSU deficit to just two at 59-57 on a jumper at the 4:06 mark. However, after a timeout, the Panthers quickly pushed that lead to its highest of the game, with Green hitting a pair of free throws and burying a three in front of a jumper by Angela Rodriguez that made it 65-57 with just 2:18 remaining.

Demmings took over at that point, hitting two three's and two layups over the final 138 seconds.

The first half started slowly for the Panthers, but a very spirited effort eventually led to a 32-28 lead at the break when they finished the half on a 9-0 run, including a layup and jumper from Swopshire in the final spurt.

Milwaukee missed five of its first six shots of the contest while Wright State scored the first nine points of the game to fall down, 9-2, at the first media timeout. UWM dug deep and responded quickly, firing off a 10-0 run of its own to lead, 10-9, on a three-pointer by Tucker at the 12:35 mark.

Just like that it was WSU's turn, as eight unanswered gave the home team a 17-10 lead on a three by Demmings. The Raiders would build their lead to as many as six on a pair of occasions, but the Panthers would continue to claw back, making 11 of their final 17 field goals of the half to end the first 20 minutes at 52.2 percent.

Down 28-23 with under six minutes left in the first, UWM closed the half on that 9-0 run to really take over the momentum of the game. Tucker ended the half with 10 points and six rebounds, with Swopshire adding four points and four boards.

Turnovers hurt, but strong defense and good rebounding (a 20-14 edge at half against the top rebounding team in the league) limited WSU to just 10 points off the 11 miscues.

Overall, Milwaukee tied its season high with 11 made three-pointers and shot 43.1 percent (25-for-58) in the game. It also ended the contest with a 40-35 edge in rebounds.

The Panthers return home to continue Horizon League play. Milwaukee welcomes Cleveland State for a game on Sports 32 Jan. 19, set for a 7 p.m. tip.