March 8, 2014

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team saw Oakland University go on a first-half scoring run that provided a hole it could not dig out of in falling, 79-66, Saturday at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (8-21, 4-12 Horizon League) traded baskets in a mostly-even second half, but could not overcome an 11-point halftime deficit against the Golden Grizzlies (13-16, 8-8 Horizon League).

"It's the thing that has been plaguing us a little bit the last few games," UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "Right at the 10 or 11-minute mark, the other team goes on a big run and we can't seem to ever bounce back from that. We have a long way to go here to get ready for Wright State, who I now know we are playing in the conference tournament. But, we can compete. And if we play together and put our best game together, I know we can compete with anybody in the league. I just told the team `it's tournament time' and every team is 0-0. So, no game before this matters, it's time to move on and put our best foot forward."

Sophomore Avyanna Young put her name in the record book, recording her fifth-straight double-double to equal the school standard for consecutive games with one. She finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, her 14th double-double of the season, with her 14 also tied for the third-most in a season in program history.

Today was also "Senior Day" for the Panthers as Kimee Chandler (6 points, 4 assists), Emily Decorah (13 points) and Angela Rodriguez (12 points, 9 rebounds) were honored in a pregame ceremony.

"They are three great seniors who have really made my transition as a head coach here really easy," Rechlicz said. "They are bought into the system and they believe in us as a coaching staff. It's been a joy to coach all three of them."

Junior Ashley Green also chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds, including 13 in the first half. Bethany Watterworth paced the Grizzlies with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Milwaukee trailed by double-digits at intermission but could never get over the hump. Oakland would build a second-half advantage to as many as 21 before cruising the rest of the way.

Milwaukee did close the first half on a 12-4 spurt to get within striking distance at 44-33. The game was back and forth at the start, but OU took off after grabbing an 11-10 lead at the 15:01 mark. The Golden Grizzlies scored 29 of the next 40 points - including a run of 18-4 at one point - and were ahead, 40-21, with 4:10 remaining.

But Milwaukee never gave up, getting a three from Green and six straight points from Young to make a dent. A free throw and jumper by Rodriguez in the final 40 seconds helped get UWM a touch closer.

Up next, it's tournament time. Based on today's results, the Panthers remained the No. 7 seed in the Horizon League Tournament and will open postseason play Wednesday at Wright State. Tip time will be posted to the UWM website as soon as it is official, most likely 6 p.m. CST.