March 5, 2014

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Valparaiso University scored 19 of the first 21 points of the second half and never looked back, handing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team a 94-80 loss Wednesday evening.

Junior Ashley Green netted a season-high 32 points and sophomore Avyanna Young added her fourth straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but the team could never overcame that second-half run after an evenly-played first half.

The Panthers (8-20, 4-11 Horizon League) trailed by just one at halftime, but watched the Crusaders (5-23, 3-13 Horizon League) go off for season highs in both points scored and field goal percentage on the night. Milwaukee was also playing shorthanded, suiting up just seven players for the contest.

Senior Angela Rodriguez finished with 15 points as the only other UWM player in double-figures. Charae Richardson led the Crusaders with a career-high 24 points, with Sharon Karungi adding 23 points in just 21 minutes off the bench.

The first five minutes of the second half was Milwaukee's undoing. Valpo started the period on a 19-2 run that included 17 straight points at one point to hold a commanding 65-47 lead at the 14:53 mark.

The Panthers would never give up, but got no closer than the final point differential of 14 points the rest of the way. Valpo ended the night at 56.5 percent (35-for-62) from the floor and scored 28 points off 21 UWM turnovers.

The first half was entertaining and both offenses were firing away. Milwaukee shot 60 percent (18-for-30) yet trailed, 46-45, at intermission after Valpo shot 55.9 percent (19-for-34) on its own. The teams combined for 12 made three-pointers on 24 attempts with each team trading punches - the first 20 minutes featured six ties and eight lead changes.

Milwaukee was the first to dent the scoreboard, going up 15-8 on the strength of a trio of three-pointers by senior Emily Decorah. Not to be outdone, the Crusaders responded with a 13-3 run to take a 21-18 advantage at the 12:16 mark.

Turnovers were the only thing to slow UWM down and 12 first-half miscues helped Valpo break up a 38-38 tie with an 8-0 spurt that gave the Crusaders their biggest lead of the half at 46-38. Green helped the Panthers rally back, with a pair of baskets down the stretch as Milwaukee scored the final seven points before the horn to trim the deficit to one. She was impressive in the period, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

Up next, the Panthers play their final game of the regular season, hosting Oakland Saturday for "Senior Day". Tip off is set for 2 p.m.