Feb. 4, 2012

Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay remained undefeated on the season with an 85-39 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Saturday night at the Kress Events Center.

The Phoenix (20-0, 10-0 Horizon League) took control against the Panthers (6-15, 2-8 Horizon League) with a 26-2 scoring run that spanned the final six minutes of the first half through the first 3:29 of the second and did not look back.

Sophomore Angela Rodriguez led Milwaukee with 12 points, all coming on three-pointers. Freshman Kiki Wilson was second on the team with nine points.

Julie Wojta and Sarah Eichler each led five Green Bay players in double-figures with 16 points.

"It's hard," Milwaukee head coach Sandy Botham said. "They are a good team. We just talked about their culture. This is a team that plays every single possession and we have a team that hasn't quite figured out the importance of that yet. I thought we played with them ... we were holding our own but then our foul trouble hurt us. They went on that run at the end of the half and that was the game."

The Phoenix came into the contest ranked No. 10/9 in the polls, marking the fourth time this season the Panthers have taken on a nationally-ranked opponent. With the victory, it remains one of only two unbeaten teams at the NCAA Division I level this season.

"Give Green Bay credit," Botham said. "They are on a mission. You can tell by the way they play. We did not have the ability to take care of the ball and they took advantage of it."

In front of the first-ever announced pre-game sellout of 4,018 fans, UWM came out early and fought through the tough environment to take a 5-2 lead on a jumper by Wilson at the 17:47 mark.

But Green Bay made a quick statement, going on an 18-4 run to take control of the contest and led, 20-9, before a Wilson three-pointer stemmed the tide at 20-12.

Foul trouble and turnovers hurt Milwaukee's chances at an upset bid, as Rodriguez picked up her third foul early in the first half and 19 miscues before intermission led to 30 points for Green Bay.

The final 5:58 of the half was all Phoenix, as it closed the half on a 17-2 run, including a three-pointer at the buzzer, to lead by 26 at the half.

Green Bay ended the contest at 42 percent (29-of-69) from the floor, including 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from three-point range. UWM was at 27.3 percent (12-of-44 on the night.

Next up, the Panthers return home for more league action, hosting Wright State Feb. 9 in a 7 p.m. tipoff.