Jan. 3, 2002

MILWAUKEE-Jessica Wilhite and Maria Viall combined for 50 points to lead UWM (7-5) over Loyola, 90-61, Thursday night at the Klotsche Center. Wilhite scored 28 points while Maria Viall added a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Horizon League opener.

Wilhite scored 24 points in the first half to tally half of UWM's points when she hit 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-6 threes. Though Wilhite was held to four points after halftime, Viall exploded with 16 points in the second half and finished on 10-of-15 field goals.

"We set the tone right away with our inside-outside duo," UWM coach Sandy Botham said. "Jessica was back in her Horizon League form and just put on a clinic in the first half."

Sarah Hamilton came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points for Loyola (7-7), which shot 41.1 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from beyond the arc.

The Panthers also pounded Loyola on the boards, 43-24. UWM shot 49.3 percent on the game, including 42.1 percent from three-point land. Milwaukee accounted for 21 assists and 16 turnovers, while the Ramblers made 10 assists and 21 turnovers. Holly Tamm led UWM with eight assists to tie a career-high, while also adding four points, two steals and six rebounds.

UWM gradually built up a lead in the first half and then went on a 10-2 run down the stretch, finishing the half with a 48-32 margin. In the second half, the Panthers buried Loyola by as many as 32 points. Loyola came back to life with a 12-0 run sparked by Ciara Henderson's pair of free throws. Viall finally ended the Rambler's comeback with 7:42 remaining when she scored on a layup assisted by Wilhite. Milwaukee tightened up defensively on the boards to maintain the large lead down the stretch.

"We had a lot of confidence as soon as we walked out on to the court," Wilhite said of her team's dominating performance. "Going through the non-conference season has been hard. Going up and down with wins and losses, we've questioned ourselves. But in the end, we've learned a lot and I think it shows."

Wilhite finished with 10-of-20 from the field and 5-of-10 from three-point range. Her 24 points in the first half set a school record for most points scored in the first half. Andrea Filipek's 27 points holds the record for most points score in the second half.

The Panthers host UIC (9-5) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Flames, who led the Horizon League prior to tonight, are coming off tonight's 65-52 loss to Green Bay. UWM's game against UIC will be televised on tape delay at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night on TV 41.