Nov. 23, 2013

Box Score | Postgame Report | "Star of the Game" postgame interview

MILWAUKEE - Junior Ashley Green had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore Avyanna Young nearly joined her with 22 points and nine rebounds to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team to a 76-64 victory over North Dakota State University Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (1-2) shot over 50 percent after intermission and extended their 12-point halftime lead over the Bison (1-4) to as many as 16 in the second half.

"It was a good win," UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "It was exactly what we have been looking to do in locking in our defense. We hadn't been there the first few games with our defense and I felt like - especially in the first half - that we came out with such an energy and intensity and the defense was really on point."

Just one game removed from posting career-highs in points and rebounds, Young tied her collegiate-best point total on an efficient 9-for-12 showing from the floor. She added those nine rebounds, one assist and a block.

"She has really slowed herself down," Rechlicz said. "Avyanna is almost too quick some times and she has really gotten herself under control. Her step-though moves, everything, she's just really increased her game and playing under control. We need this from here game-in and game-out the rest of the season."

Green had her best outing of the season, recording the fifth double-double of her career. Senior Angela Rodriguez was also in double-figures with 14 points. She handed out a team-high five assists and took over for a stretch when NDSU had cut the lead back to under 10 points in the second half.

"She is our leader and someone that I know I can look to when times are getting tight and say `put the ball in your hands, make a play' and she finds the way to do something," Rechlicz said. "She's fearless out there, she plays with no fear and to have a player like that really helps our team."

Brooke LeMar shot 26 times to lead the way for the Bison with 25 points, adding nine rebounds and five assists as the only visitor in double-figures.

An NDSU jumper at the 12:46 mark had it back within eight points at 52-44. From there, it was all Rodriguez, driving to the hoop for a basket, making a steal on defense on the next Bison possession before hitting a three-pointer in transition to push the margin back to 13. She wasn't done there, throwing a long outlet pass to Green on the break for the assist on UWM's next possession after that. From there, the lead would never fall below 10 the rest of the way.

Senior Kimee Chandler chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and four assists. Freshman Christina Wakeman was a strong post presence with six points and five boards in 14 minutes off the bench.

The game started back-and-forth, with UWM then finding itself trailing 10-7 early. However, 11 points in a row made it 18-10 in Milwaukee's favor and the team never looked back after that 11-0 scoring run. Wakeman had a basket and a pair of free throws in the stretch, with Young and Green adding made baskets and Rodriguez a three-pointer to account for the unanswered barrage.

The Bison made a run at the end of the half, but Milwaukee scored the final five points of the frame to take a 35-23 lead into the locker room.

For the game, the Panthers shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the floor compared to 32.9 percent (24-of-73) for the Bison. UWM held a 42-28 advantage in the paint and 17-9 on the fast break. The team also fared even on the boards, 43-43, and turned the ball over just 11 times.

With a win on the ledger to close out the three-game season-opening homestand, it's now off to New Mexico for three games next week. Up first, a stop in Albuquerque for a contest against the University of New Mexico, set for an 8 p.m. CST tip in "The Pit" Tuesday.