Feb. 1, 2012

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Seattle University converted seven of eight free throws in the final minute to help secure a 63-56 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Wednesday night at the Klotsche Center.

Freshman Kiki Wilson tied the game at 56-56 with about two minutes to play but the Panthers (6-14) could not find a way to get past the Redhawks (13-9) down the stretch. Seattle recorded the final seven points of the game from the free throw line while Milwaukee failed to hit on its final four shots from the floor.

Freshman Ashley Green led the way with 14 points and also added a career-best six steals. Sophomore Angela Rodriguez chipped in with 13 and sophomore Courtney Lindfors had 10 points despite being limited to just 18 minutes due to foul trouble. Wilson led the team with a career-high nine rebounds and also handed out six assists to go with her six points.

Kacie Sowell led Seattle with 18 points and nine rebounds, with Ashley Ward chipping in with 14 points.

"Give our players credit - they persevered and stayed with it," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "They kept battling but just weren't able to overcome it. It's the little things - we just have to get better."

The loss took away from a feisty pair of comebacks by UWM on the evening. Down by nine early in the second half, it fired off an 11-2 run to tie at 37-37, capped by a three-pointer from the corner by Rodriguez.

Seattle responded quickly, recording the next eight points to lead at 45-37 before the Panthers fought back again. This time, a 12-4 run was the difference, forging the fifth tie of the night at 49-49 on a Lindfors free throw with four minutes to play. UWM led briefly on a pair of occasions before the final minute.

"We talk about every player staying committed to getting better," Botham said. "Tomorrow is a new day. We'll watch the tape and continue to improve as a team."

The Panthers forced 22 turnovers overall and held the Redhawks to just 30.8 percent shooting in the first half, but were hampered with first-half foul trouble, with three starters playing just eight minutes each.

Turnovers plagued both teams in the first half, with the two squads combining for 28 of them in the first 20 minutes. Defense stood tall early, with UWM holding just a 4-3 lead as late as the 12:39 mark.

The Panthers crawled ahead on a pair of occasions, but Seattle battled back and would not let them pull away. A three from Rodriguez at the 6:04 mark broke the third tie of the half and made it 17-14 on the scoreboard.

However, the Redhawks outscored Milwaukee 12-4 the rest of the half to take a 26-21 lead into the locker room, including a three-pointer at the buzzer after Wilson's layup had UWM back within two with just under a minute to go.

Next up, the Panthers make the trip up the interstate to take on in-state rival Green Bay, scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip from the Kress Center Saturday. The Phoenix started the week ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll and No. 9 in the USA Today poll.