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Jan. 16, 2003

The Sandy Botham File A 1988 Notre Dame graduate, Sandy Botham is in her seventh season at the helm of the UWM women's hoops program. The two-time MCC/Horizon League Coach of the Year owns a 125-84 career mark, good for a .601 winning percentage. The second-winningest coach in school history and the all-time leader in Division I victories, Botham is 103-80 in her six-plus seasons in Milwaukee. Last season, Botham led UWM to its first 20-win season in the school's ten-year Division I history. Botham's teams have posted a 60-28 record in Horizon League play over the years, including regular season and tournament titles in 2000-01. Assisting Botham on the sidelines are first year assistants Joe Conroy, Lea Robinson, and Nicole Luchsinger with 1997 Horizon League Player of the Year Jen Greger serving as Director of Basketball Operations.

Scouting The Phoenix The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay comes into tonight's game as one of the top teams in the country, thanks to a No.16 national ranking according to the Associated Press. The Phoenix are 14-2 on the season and 5-0 in Horizon League play and have lost just six conference games in the last 4+ seasons under fifth-year head coach Kevin Borseth. UWGB boasts a balanced offensive attack with three players averaging in double figures and two more scoring nine points per game or better. Senior Kristy Loiselle leads the Phoenix in all three statistical categories, thanks to per game norms of 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Fellow senior Chandra Johnson is averaging 12.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while senior Sara Boyer scores at a 10.9 ppg clip. The Phoenix shoot a remarkable 45.6% from three-point land and 77.1% from the free throw line. Tonight's contest will mark the 50th meeting between the two school's, marking the longest running series in both program's histories.

Two In A Row An Elusive Mark The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team is hoping to do something tonight it hasn't done all year, win for the second straight game. UWM has won six games thus far in 2002-03 but have yet to win back-to-back games at any point in the season. Following Saturday's win at Youngstown State, the Panthers have now alternated wins and losses for four straight games, dating back to a 66-57 overtime loss to Detroit on Jan. 2. On the flip side, UWM has lost two straight games on three different occasions, but have yet to drop more than two games in a row. UWM has alternated wins and losses 11 out of 15 times this year.

Panther Offense Kicks Into High Gear The early season offensive struggles appear to be over for the UWM Panthers. Thanks to a new blend of players and some confidence on the offensive end of the court, UWM has increased its point production to over 80 points per game in the last three contest. Milwaukee has averaged 80.3 points per game on the season, upping the season point total to 64.9 per contest. Over the three-game span, UWM is shooting 43.8% from the field, while connecting on 88 field goals, 13 three-pointers and 52 free throws over that time frame. One key to the Panther offense, ball control. UWM has turned the ball over 62 times during the stretch while dishing out 62 assists, good for a 1.00 ratio.

Panthers Struggle From Downtown The three-point shot has been more of a problem than a weapon for the UWM women's hoops team this season. Milwaukee has connected on only 51 trifectas on the year while the opposition has doubled that amount with 102 three-balls. Furthermore, UWM is struggling percentage-wise from downtown, making just 27.0% of its tri-lighters while opponents are connecting on 38.1% from three-point land. Thus far in 2002-03, the Panthers have shot 30% or better from the three-point line in just four of 15 games.

Free Throws Name Of The Game Through the ups and downs of the current season, one thing has remained constant for the UWM women's hoops squad, success at the free throw line. On the season, the Panthers have connected on 209-of-296 free throws, for 70.6%. The Panthers have connected on just 31 fewer free throws than the opposition has shot for the season. Freshman Anne Witte leads the UWM success story at the line as she has nailed 16 straight charity tosses to push her team-best mark to 91.3%. Meanwhile, senior Jessica Wilhite is fourth in the league with an 83.3% showing from the line.

Panthers Dominate On The Boards If rebounding is a key to success, than the recent results of the UWM women's basketball team can certainly help to unlock the door to victory. Twice during the last three games, UWM has posted top five rebound margins in the history of the program. Versus CSU on Jan. 4, the Panthers outrebounded the Vikings 57-29, good for a +28 margin and what was then the second best performance in school history. However, just a week later versus Youngstown State, Milwaukee did it again, this time destroying the Penguins on the board to the tune of 54-21. The +33 rebound margin is now second on the all-time list, trailing just the +34 posted versus Marquette on Dec. 3, 1996.

Sharp-Shooting Wilhite Finds Her Form The demise of Jessica Wilhite has been greatly exaggerated. After struggling through the early portion of the league season, the 5-7 guard has been on a tear of late. Over the past three games Wilhite is averaging 15.0 ppg while connecting on 50.0% (14-28) of her shots from the floor. The senior floor leader has nailed 45.0% (9-20) of her trifectas to go with making all eight of her charity tosses. Furthermore, Wilhite has displayed an all-around game of late, averaging 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists to go with her scoring and shooting numbers.

No Shots For You!! Milwaukee-native Teri Huff has quickly become a dominant force on the defensive end of the court for head coach Sandy Botham. The athletic forward has turned into a shot-blocking machine of late and is quickly moving up the Horizon League blocks list. Huff has rejected at least one shot in each of the last nine games, including a career-high three swats at No. 9 Vanderbilt. Over the last nine contests Huff has 15 blocked shots, good for 1.67 per game. That number is good for a tie with Maria Viall for the most blocked shots during that time.

Panthers Rank Among The League's Best According to the latest Horizon League statistics released on Monday (Jan.11), several UWM individuals rank among the leaders in several different statistical categories. Junior Maria Viall is ranked in the top five in four different statistical categories as she sits first in blocked shots (1.9 pg), second in field goal percentage (55.3%), second in rebounding (8.6 pg), and third in scoring (17.4 pg). Senior guard Jessica Wilhite is second in three-point field goals made (2.27 pg) and fourth in free throw percentage (83.3%). Meanwhile, sophomore forward Teri Huff is skyrocketing up the blocked shots list, currently siting sixth with 1.0 blocks per game.

Viall Nears "1,000-500" Club Yes, she's only a junior but UWM's Maria Viall is close to joining her second "elite" club of the season. The 6-3 center is just seven rebounds away from becoming just the 11th player in school history, and the fourth in the Division I era, to grab 500 career rebounds. When Viall reaches the plateau she will join Jaci Clark (1979-93), Umenia White (1985-89), Marsha Housley (1979-83), Cammie Nonof (1985-89), Niki Flack (1989-93), and Darla Wack (1981-85) as the only players in school history to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds in a career.

Becker Becomes Solid Low-Post Force With the emergence of sophomore Kimberly Becker, the UWM low-post offense is becoming more than just the Maria Viall show. Over the last three contests Becker is averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, good for third and second on the team, respectively. Becker, who notched a career-high 17 points versus YSU on Saturday (Jan. 11), is shooting a red-hot 63.2% from the field during the stretch while connecting on a team best 16-of-23 free throws.

Freshman Makes Her Mark On The League UWM freshman Nichole Drummond has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the Horizon League. A 5-10 forward from Kenosha, Wis., Drummond has become a force on the offensive end while displaying a solid all-around game. In the last three games, Drummond is averaging 10.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Drummond's rebound numbers are good for second on the sqaud covering the last three games while her 11 assists lead the team.