Jan. 26, 2012

Box Score | Postgame Report | "Player of the Game" Postgame Interview: Angela Rodriguez

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Sophomore Courtney Lindfors led four players in double-figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team topped Valparaiso University, 55-47, Thursday at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Lindfors scored 14 points, sophomore Angela Rodriguez had 12 and freshmen Kiki Wilson and Ashley Green each had 10 points on the night to lead UWM to back-to-back wins. Rodriguez and Wilson hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the victory away late.

The Panthers (6-12, 2-6 Horizon League) led comfortably before a late Crusader (5-14, 1-7 Horizon League) rally pulled them within five points with four minutes remaining. Rodriguez buried a long three from the wing to stem the tide and, after a turnover on the inbounds pass, Wilson gave Milwaukee its biggest lead of the game with another long-range basket.

"You win games when you have that kind of balance," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "I think we are really starting to come in to ourselves a little bit. We have really established some roles and are playing with confidence. It's been a journey and now we just need to keep this rolling."

Junior Sami Tucker had a team-high seven rebounds to go with six points and three steals. Wilson added six rebounds and four assists to her solid stat line and the team finished a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. The defense was just as solid, forcing 21 turnovers and limiting Valparaiso to 36.4 percent (16-for-44) shooting in the game. Tabitha Gerardot led the home team with a game-high 16 points.

"We came out of the blocks very strong," Botham said. "We did a good job taking care of the basketball and shooting the ball well. We weren't as sharp offensively in the second half but what was great was that we kept our poise. Valpo came back and hit some big shots and cut into the lead."

Milwaukee led by 10 at 37-27 on a layup by Lindfors with 12:31 to go. Valparaiso responded with six in a row, but four UWM free throws slowed the momentum.

The Crusaders made one final push to get within five before Rodriguez and Wilson would bury the pair of three-pointers to put the game away in a span of 10 seconds on the clock. Valpo would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

"Angela hit that big three that I really felt was the dagger," Botham said. "I am really proud of our kids fight and determination and their ability to put it away."

Back and forth in the opening minutes, the Panthers finally clawed ahead to get the first breathing room at 20-13 on a pair of free throws from Green. Five quick points by the Crusaders closed the gap before UWM would go on a bit of a spurt to end the half.

The Panthers would score nine of the final 13 points of the half, taking their biggest lead on a three-pointer by senior Alex Klawitter with 1:53 remaining to make it 29-20.

Despite being cold from long-range prior to intermission (just 1-for-7), Milwaukee did shoot 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from the field overall and held a slim 16-13 edge on the boards. Nine turnovers, coming mostly in the final 10 minutes, hurt UWM's opportunity to have a bigger lead at the horn.

Lindfors made all five of her field goal attempts in the first for her 10 points, with Green tallying eight of hers in the first 20 minutes.

The Panthers close out January with a trip Saturday to Indianapolis to take on Butler. Tip off against the Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. CST.