Jan. 16, 2002

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MILWAUKEE -- The UWM women's basketball team (10-5, 4-0 Horizon) hosts Cleveland State (6-8, 2-3 Horizon) and Detroit (7-7, 3-1 Horizon) this week at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers swept two road games at Wright State and Butler last week to claim their sixth-straight win and fourth consecutive in the league. The Panthers haven't been beaten at the Klotsche Center by a league opponent through 18 games dating back to 1999.

Milwaukee sits on top of the league at 4-0 after beating Wright State, 70-52, last Thursday and Butler, 79-47, on Saturday. Cleveland State is coming off a pair of losses last week, first at home to UIC, 53-44, and then at Detroit, 94-67. Prior to its blowout victory over Cleveland State, Detroit lost to Youngstown State, 66-57, on the road.

Milwaukee trails in the series against both teams. Cleveland State has the 10-8 record all-time against UWM, though the Panthers have swept the past four meetings. Detroit boasts the 12-7 all-time record against UWM, with earc team winning at home in their past six meetings.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS

Cleveland State is currently on a three-game skid entering the Klotsche Center. The Vikings shot 32.9 percent against Detroit and connected on 23-of-70 field goals, including 7-of-29 three pointers. CSU converted just 14-of-26 from the line and were outrebounded, 45-37. Three Vikings scored in double digits: Ashley Schrock led with 17 points, Shannon Sword tallied 16 and Erika Roudebush added 11 points.

Erika Roudebush is tied for first in the league and leads the Vikings with 16.8 ppg, while Ashley Schrock is the other player for CSU in double figures with 10.1 ppg. Tonya Crum leads the team with 7.7 rebounds per game, while averaging 8.1 points for third best on the team. Shannon Sword ranks first the league in three point percentage with .600, though she has only made 15 treys on the season.

The Vikings average seven points less than their opponents, scoring 69.6 ppg. They average 37.7 percent from the floor, which ranks eighth in the league out of nine teams, and 30.6 percent from the arc. CSU averages 6.36 three-point field goals made per game, good enough to lead the Horizon League.

SCOUTING THE TITANS

Detroit lit it up against Cleveland State, shooting 53.8 percent on the game by connecting on 35-of-65 shots. The Titans also showed strong at the line, making 21-of-25 free throws. They also made 24 assists and committed 16 turnovers. Forward Randee Henry scored 33 points to lead the game, while Molly Peterman added 17.

Michelle James lead the team with 13.4 points per game and is ranked seventh in the league in scoring. She leads the league in steals (3.29/game) and assists (5/game). Peterman is second on the team in scoring with 13 ppg, while Henry is third with 12.1 ppg. In league games, Henry leads the team with 17.5 ppg followed by Peterman's 17 ppg. James has been held to average just 5.8 ppg while averaging a team-high 32.5 minutes per contest.

The TItans average 2.7 points more than their opponents, and average 41.8 percent shooting from the field. Defensively, Detroit lead the league in field goal pct. defense (.361) and three point field goal pct. defense (.245), and ranks second in steals (10.47/game).

INSIDE UWM'S RECENT ROAD WINS

Against Wright State, the Panthers shot 43.5 percent on the game while recording a season-high 16 steals. UWM scored 28 points off of 30 Wright State turnovers. The Panthers made 20 assists and 21 turnovers on the game. Both teams pulled down 34 boards. UWM used a 12-player rotation in the first half to outlast Wright State, who went only seven players deep, and build the 37-16 lead at halftime. The Panthers extended their lead to as many as 32 points in the second half, but let up slightly midway through. The Raiders suddenly got hot and eventually cut their deficit to 11 points, but UWM pulled back ahead down the stretch to take the 18-point advantage. Malika Willoughby led UWM with a career-high 13 points, while Holly Tamm scored 12 and Jessica Wilhite added 11.

Against Butler, Milwaukee recorded 16 steals for the second-consecutive game and tied a season high. The Panthers forced 25 turnovers, while they committed 16 themselves and made 13 assists. Though UWM's defense was strong, the offensive threat came inside as Maria Viall scored a career-high 33 points. Viall finished shooting 13-of-19 field goals and 7-of-11 at the line. She was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds on the game. UWM finished with 45.5 percent shooting after a sluggish start from the field in the first half. Jessica Wilhite scored 10 points as the only other UWM player in double figures

MUST-SEE TV

The premiere of the Sandy Botham Show, featuring UWM's own 2001 MCC Coach of the Year, was shown Thurs., Jan. 10, on Channel 41. Botham can be seen at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday night throughout the rest of the season. CBS 58 sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek hosts the show. This week's show features senior forward Stefanie Kaufmann.

VIALL NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN

Maria Viall was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 14 for the second consecutive week. She was recognized by the league this week after pouring in a career-high 33 points to lead UWM past Butler on Saturday. In the previous week, she helped UWM to a pair of league wins at home with two double- doubles, averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds in both contests. She is off to a torrid pace in league games, averaging 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds through four games.

ROAD WARRIORS

UWM has won six games on the road so far this season, tieing a Division I school record for most road wins in a season. UWM's accumulated six on the road in 2000-01, 1999-00 and 1997-98. UWM has six away games left on its schedule, with a potential of one more if they play host Loyola at the Horizon League Tournament. UWM needs just four more wins on the road to average .500 in home and away games, which would be the best ever.

UWM'S RPI

Milwaukee currently has a 77 RPI according to collegerpi.com. That ratings percentsge index is the highest given to UWM in its history. In the two years prior, UWM had a 116 RPI in the 2000-01 season and a 157 in the 1999-00 season. The Panthers are projected to finish the season with a 75 RPI and 20-7 record, winning the rest of their league games accept both games against rival Green Bay.

PANTHER DEFENSE

UWM's tenacious defense forced 30 turnovers from Wright State, the highest amount an opponent has coughed up this season. That was the eighth time this season that opponents have tallied more than 20 turnovers. UWM ranks second in the Horizon League in turnover margin, with 3.27 less than its opponents, and also ranks second in scoring defense, holding opponents to 60.8 ppg.

FRESHMEN LEADERS

Point guard Malika Willoughby led the team in scoring against Wright State, registering 13 points. She shot 5-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-5 from the arc. That came as the second time this season a freshman has led the Panthers in scoring. Forward Christine Gutierrez led UWM with a team-high 14 points over Bowling Green on Dec. 8.

TWENTY-SOMETHING

UWM committed 21 turnovers against Wright State to make it the sixth time this season the Panthers have tallied more than 20. In that same game, Milwaukee made 20 assists for the second time this season to record at least 20 assists.

CHUDY'S DUTY

Freshman guard Elizabeth Chudy has averaged 9.5 minutes off the bench in eight games played. Up until the game against Wright State, she had always connected on at least one three pointer in games played. The games against Wright State and Butler stopped Chudy's duty of contributing from beyond the arc in her minutes played. She averages 3.8 ppg, while leading the team in three-point field goal percentage (.444) on 8-of-18 treys.

CAREER DAYS FOR VIALL

Maria Viall scored 33 points against Butler to eclipse her previous career high of 30 points gained against Saint Mary's on Dec. 28th. Against the Bulldogs, Viall made 13-of-19 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. In the game against Saint Mary's, Viall connected on 14-of-18 field goals and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. The sophomore center grabbed a pair of double-doubles in league matches against Loyola (22p, 10r) and UIC (17p, 12r) to open the league season. She now has seven career double-doubles, tops among all active Panthers.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FACTS FACTS

With seven career double-doubles, Maria Viall has moved into a tie with Trina Rathke for fifth place on the school's career double-double list. The school record is 22 career double-doubles by Erica Young. Viall is also just the second player in UWM's Div. I history to post a double-double in back-to-back games twice in a career, having done so once this season and once last season. Young is the only other player to do so, having accomplished the feat four times. Young also holds the record with five consecutive double-doubles.

CONSISTENT IN APPEARANCE

When Stefanie Kaufmann took the floor at Butler, it was the 100th consecutive game she has appeared in. In her fourth year, Kaufmann has played in all 100 team games, while starting 28 times. The record for most games in a career, without missing one, since UWM moved to Div. I is 108 by Trina Rathke (1995-98) and Apryl Rodman (1994-98). Both Rathke and Rodman played all 108 team games in their careers. If Kaufmann stays healthy, she will eclipse the mark Feb. 7 at Wright State. Junior Jessica Wilhite (73), sophomore Maria Viall (45) and freshman Malika Willoughby (15) are the only other players on pace for the same feat.

STEALING HOME

With victories over Loyola and UIC in early January, UWM extended its home league winning streak to 18 games. The Panthers haven't fallen to a league team at the Klotsche Center since UW-Green Bay upended Milwaukee, 73-54, on Feb. 20, 1999.

MARIA MARIA

It may appear as though center Maria Viall has been hot as of late, but really she's been doing it all season. Viall had recorded 12 consecutive games with double-digit scoring, but that streak was cut short when she was held to six points against Wright State. That game came as just the second time this season Viall scored in single digits, with the first coming in the season opener. Her streak of 12 games marked a career best, and tops among all active players. The record, however, is 21 games set by Pam Bartnik during the 1993-94 season.

STARTING SPOT

Freshman guard Malika Willoughby made her first start with the regular rotation in the game against Saint Mary's and has started each game since. She replaced senior guard Allison Klaas, who now gives the Panthers experience off the bench. With Willoughby in the starting five, the Panthers have rattled off four six-straight wins, and hold a 7-0 record overall when she starts.

CAREER LEADERBOARD

With 10 points against Butler on Jan. 12, junior guard Jessica Wilhite moved into 16th place on the school's career scoring list. Wilhite moved past former Panther Laurie Krajnik, who accumulated 960 points in her career. With 962 career points, Wilhite is just 38 points shy of becoming the 12th Panther to join the school's 1,000 point club.

ALSO ON THE BOARD

Also making news with career leaderboards is sophomore center Maria Viall. Viall has 23 blocks this season, giving her 55 career blocks to move into sole possession of eighth place in the records book. With 23 blocks through 15 games, Viall is looking to make a run at UWM's Division I school record of 47 blocks in a single season. The current mark is held by Erica Young during the 1993-94 season. The all-time career leader in blocks is Carrie Nonof with 136 blocks. Viall registered 32 blocks last season and ranks third in individual season records for blocks.

POLE POSITION

Following the Wisconsin game on Dec. 11, sophomore center Maria Viall became the team's leading scorer. Viall becomes the first Panther player, other than Jessica Wilhite to have the team lead in scoring since 2000. Corrin Von Wald ended the 1999-00 season with 11.9 ppg, tops on the team. Viall now averages 16.4 points per game, while Wilhite is second with 13.9 ppg. Both rank among the top ten in the league in scoring, with Viall third and Wilhite seventh. Viall is out of first place by only .4 points per game.

WILHITE FOR THREE

The game against Wisconsin was the only game this season Jessica Wilhite did not connect from behind the arc. She scored four points but was 0-of-3 from three-point range. Prior to that game, she had made at least one three-pointer in each of UWM's first eight games this season. Wilhite opened the 2000-01 season with multiple threes in the first 15 games, and kept on pace with at least one made in 20 straight games. As a freshman during the 1999-2000 season, Wilhite made it seven games before failing to hit a three. In her career, Wilhite has played in just eight games without making a three point shot.

SINGLE DIGITS

2001-02 Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Jessica Wilhite has been a marked target this season. Opponents have added great defensive pressure to tie her up and force the ball elsewhere. The Panthers' go-to player exploded in the beginning of the season, averaging 20 points through the first four games. But after a three-game stretch of scoring single digits, including a season-low three points against Valparaiso, Wilhite now averages 13.7 ppg. She exploded against Loyola on Jan. 3, going off for a school-record 24 first-half points, en route to a 28-point outing. She averaged 10.5 points in UWM past two road games.

FEWEST TO FOUR

Milwaukee's 71-50 win at Chicago State on Dec. 31 marked the fourth road win of the season for the Panthers. With a 4-2 mark on the road, the 2001-02 squad set a school Div. I record with the fewest games to reach four road wins. The previous record was seven, when the 1997-98 team started the road season 4-3. Last season, the team didn't record its fourth road win until their 12 opportunity.

100 AND COUNTING

With UWM's win over Northern Illinois in the season opener on Nov. 16, coach Sandy Botham collected her 100th career win as a head coach. Botham started her career with Beloit College and collected 22 wins in her lone season there. Since coming to Milwaukee prior to the 1996-97 season, Botham has collected 85 wins, giving her 107 for her career.

CARING FOR THE BALL

UWM committed just 10 turnovers against Saint Mary's on Dec. 28th. Against No. 3 Vandy, the Panthers kept care of the ball by recording 16 assists and turning over the ball a season-low nine times. Holly Tamm led UWM with a game-high six assists in that game. Through 15 games, she leads the squad with 62 assists and boasts a team-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.21. As a team, UWM averages 14.3 assists and 17.2 turnovers. The Panthers have forced an average of 20.5 turnovers per contest, for a turnover margin of +3.3.

SEASON'S GREETINGS

This season's 3-1 start was UWM's best start since the 1988-89 season. That year, the Panthers started 5-0 and finished 19-10.

FREE-THROW SHOOTING

In the two outings prior to Bowling Green, UWM had only reached the foul line a combined 16 times. After going 4-for-7 at Valpo and 8-for-9 against Vandy, the Panthers saw their free throw production increase. Against the Falcons, Milwaukee saw the charity stripe 28 times, converting 19 times. UWM started the season with cold free-throw shooting in the first few games, but finally heated up at the line in their game against Marquette when they made 21-of-25 attempts. The Panthers fell back against Saint Mary's when they converted just 55 percent on 11-of-20 attempts. Through 15 games, the Panthers are shooting 72.1 percent from the free throw line, while opponents are converting 69 percent of their attempts. Allison Klaas has made 8-of-9 attempts for a 88.9 percent mark to lead the team, while Jessica Wilhite is second on the team with 83.3 percent accuracy on 40-of-48 free throws. Maria Viall has made it to the line the most, connecting on 54-of-74 shots (73 percent).