Jan. 10, 2000

Milwaukee - The UWM women’s basketball team will look to start the Midwestern Collegiate Conference season on a winning note this week. The Panthers, picked to finish in a tie for second in the league’s preseason poll, play at Cleveland State on Thursday, and at Detroit on Saturday.

Cleveland State is 8-5 on the season and 0-1 in MCC play after a loss to Butler last week. Detroit holds the league’s best mark, with a 9-3 overall record. The Titans play their first MCC game of the year on Thursday against UW-Green Bay.

The Panthers’ balanced scoring attack, which features five players averaging at least 7.9 points per game, will look to help the team break out of a three-game losing streak. Sophomore guard Corrin Von Wald (Hudson, Wis.-Hudson) leads the Panthers with 9.9 ppg.

“We need to stay confident and prepare for the second part of the season, the conference games,” said UWM coach Sandy Botham.

In the Panthers’ only action last week, UWM fell on the road to Central Michigan. The Panthers led during the entire first half, and traded leads with the Chippewas during the second half. Central Michigan scored seven straight points for a 59-54 advantage with 2:36 remaining, a lead it would not relinquish.

UWM was led by double-figure scoring performances by Von Wald and junior center Janelle Jonason (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center). Both scored 16 points and paced the team with six rebounds each. Senior guard Daryl Schaffeld (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) scored nine of her 11 points in the first half.