Feb. 14, 2013

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Junior Emily Decorah scored a career-high 20 points as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team came up just short in a late comeback, falling to Youngstown State University Thursday night by a score of 58-56 at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (5-16, 1-8 Horizon League) closed a late seven-point gap to just one with under a minute to play, only to see the second-place Penguins (17-5, 7-2 Horizon League) make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 25 seconds to fend off Milwaukee and secure the victory.

"I am really proud of their effort all the time," UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "I know moral victories have been way too many this season - we have had way too many close games where we haven't finished it out. But this is going to test us and help us prepare for the rest of the conference season. We said we were 0-0 coming into this game and now we are 0-1. So, the next test is Saturday and we just have to lock in and try and get the next one."

Decorah made six three-pointers en route to her career-best point total, finishing 7-for-12 from the floor. Senior Sami Tucker was the only other player in double-figures in the defensive affair, finishing with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

"She (Decorah) has consistently been playing great for us," Rechlicz said. "She's putting a lot of extra time into the gym getting her shots up and we are finding her. We need to find her as much as possible right now."

Junior Angela Rodriguez added seven points and a team-high six assists. Sophomore Ashley Green chipped in with seven points and five rebounds. Brandi Brown led YSU with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. Heidi Schlegel was also in double-figures with 15.

Milwaukee led by three at the half at 27-24 and still led by four when Decorah hit a three at the shot-clock buzzer to make it 35-31 at the 15:03 mark. After trading baskets, YSU knocked in a three and Brown put-back an offensive board to give the Penguins their first lead at 38-37 with just over 12 minutes remaining.

It was Decorah again, burying a long three to tie the game again at 40-40. But that was when Youngstown would make a run. Seven points in a row made it 47-40 and it was still a seven-point cushion at 52-45 when UWM made its final push.

"They had a stretch in the middle of the second half where I think they scored about eight points straight on us," Rechlicz said. "It kind of took us a little bit out of our momentum but then we picked it up and found a way to come back and we just didn't have enough time."

A layup by freshman Avyanna Young and jumper by Rodriguez got the team back in it. After 1-of-2 free throws by YSU, it was Rodriguez again who buried a huge three on a break to trim the deficit to just one point at 53-52 with 38 seconds left.

From there, the Panthers just ran out of time. They kept scoring - junior Kimee Chandler had a pair of buckets in the final eight seconds - but YSU hit its free throws to close it out.

Neither team took control in the first half. Two ties and four lead changes were part of the first 20 minutes, with the teams tied at 21-21 with 69 seconds before intermission. Tucker and Decorah hit then back-to-back triples to swing momentum, but Shar'Rae Davis buried a three at the halftime buzzer that closed the gap to three at 27-24.

Up next, Milwaukee returns to the court Saturday for their annual "Pink Out" game. The Panthers and Cleveland State tip off at 2 p.m., but doors open at 1 p.m. for health fair booths, a 50/50 raffle and food from Qdoba. Wear PINK and get in for just $3 or pick up a commemorative pink t-shirt with a donation.

The team will be wearing special PINK jerseys that will be auctioned off and you can join the Panthers after the game for a screening of "The Mighty Macs". The proceeds from the day's festivities benefit Women's Health Services at the Norris Health Center.