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 125-85 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 103-81 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 Bulldogs Butler University enters today's play 3-13 overall and 1-5 in the Horizon League following a 75-36 loss to No. 16 UW-Green Bay on Thursday night. The Bulldogs shot just 30.6% from the field in that game and were held to eight second half points. BU owns wins over Bowling Green State, Illinois State, and a league win over UIC in its 16 games. Three Butler players average in double figures, paced by junior Nancy Bowden. Arguably the league's best point guard, Bowden averages 11.2 points per game but leads the league with 7.0 assists and 3.4 steals per contest. Forward Angel Mason is averaging 11.3 points and 4.9 boards per game while center Cortney Urquhart is good for 10.5 points and 7.1 caroms per game.

Two In A Row: Let's Try It Again The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team is hoping to do something today it hasn't done all year: post wins in back-to-back contests. Milwaukee has won seven games thus far in 2002-03 but have yet to win back-to-back games at any point in the season. Following Thursday's win at Wright State, the Panthers have now alternated wins and losses for six straight games, dating back to a 66-57 overtime loss to Detroit on Jan. 2. On the flip side, UWM has never lost more than two consecutive games at any time this season. UWM has alternated wins and losses 13 out of 17 times this year.

Viall's Record Night Paces Panthers If its possible for one player to singlehandedly domintate a game, Maria Viall came as close as one can come Thursday in UWM's 76-65 victory over Wright State. The junior center scored a season-high 28 points to go with a personal-best and school-record tying 21 rebounds. Viall connected on 12-of-18 shots from the field while controlling play on both ends of the court. Not to be outdone, senior guard Jessica Wilhite put the hammer on the Raiders with 22 points, nine of which came on three consecutive trifecta's during a 1:07 stretch of the second half. Freshman Nichole Drummond continued her fine play as she chipped in with 10 points.

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 60 trifectas on the year while the opposition has nearly doubled that amount with 112 three-balls. Furthermore, UWM is struggling percentage-wise from downtown, making just 28.4% of its tri-lighters while opponents are connecting on 37.1% from three-point land. Thus far in 2002-03, the Panthers have shot 30% or better from the three-point line in just six of 17 games.

Milwaukee Magic Numbers: 45 and 69 Success for the UWM women's basketball team is as easy as the two numbers shown: 45 and 69, as in 45% field goal shooting and 69 points per game. The Panthers are currently 7-1 on the season when shooting at least 45% from the floor in a game and 5-2 when scoring at least 69 points in a contest. Milwaukee is currently shooting 46.8% from the floor and scoring 73.7 points per game in the seven wins while connecting on just 39.9% of its shots in loses to go with a 59.3 scoring average.

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 the best such number in all-time, besting the +29 showing in a win versus Northeastern Illinois on January 22, 1991.

"Little Willy" Comes Up Big 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 five games Wilhite is averaging 14.6 ppg while connecting on 45.2% (24-53) of her shots from the floor. The senior floor leader has nailed 46.8% (15-32) of her trifectas to go with making all ten of her charity tosses. Furthermore, Wilhite has displayed an all-around game of late, averaging 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists to go with her scoring and shooting numbers.

"Near-Miss" Provides Light For Panthers One point. One turn of the possession arrow. One bounce off the rim. That's how close UWM came from pulling off the upset of the Horizon League season before falling 61-60 to No. 16 UW-Green Bay last Saturday. The Panthers, who trailed 30-25 at the half, played easily their best half of basketball in the second stanz and came within a 10-foot jump shot with :04 left from defeating the nationally-ranked Phoenix. How close was the game? Here's a look at the final statistics. Field goals: UWGB 26-56, UWM 25-54. Three-pointers: UWGB 5-13, UWM 5-15. Free throws: UWGB 4-5, UWM 5-7. Assists: UWGB 14, UWM 13. Fouls: UWGB 13, UWM. The one-point win marks the closest game UWGB played in any of its 16 victories.

Witte Makes Push For Freshman Honors Just seven games into her initial Horizon League season, guard Anne Witte is making waves across the league landscape. How good has the Mukwonago, Wis.-native been? Just ask UWGB head coach Kevin Borseth. Versus the Phoenix on Saturday, Witte scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including three, three-pointers and a perfect two-for-two from the free throw line. Then, on Thursday, Witte set a career-high while helping out her teammates, as she dished out seven assists versus WSU. Over the last six games No. 23 is averaging 9.5 points per game while shooting 46% from the floor, 37% from the three-point line to go with 21 assists, 18 rebounds and nine steals.

Panthers Finally Get Offensive What once was a problem has now become an asset for the UWM Panthers. Over the last five games UWM has improved what was a struggling offense into a high-scoring attack. During the recent five-game stretch, Milwaukee has improved its offensive production to 75.4 points per game, to push its overall season average to 65.3 ppg. Over the span, UWM is shooting 44.9% from the field, while connecting on 142 field goals, 22 three-pointers, and 71 free throws. Furthermore, UWM continues to create second-chance scoring opportunities which have led to an average of 17.2 offensive rebounds per contest.

Jan. 24, 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 125-85 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 103-81 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 Bulldogs Butler University enters today's play 3-13 overall and 1-5 in the Horizon League following a 75-36 loss to No. 16 UW-Green Bay on Thursday night. The Bulldogs shot just 30.6% from the field in that game and were held to eight second half points. BU owns wins over Bowling Green State, Illinois State, and a league win over UIC in its 16 games. Three Butler players average in double figures, paced by junior Nancy Bowden. Arguably the league's best point guard, Bowden averages 11.2 points per game but leads the league with 7.0 assists and 3.4 steals per contest. Forward Angel Mason is averaging 11.3 points and 4.9 boards per game while center Cortney Urquhart is good for 10.5 points and 7.1 caroms per game.

Two In A Row: Let's Try It Again The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team is hoping to do something today it hasn't done all year: post wins in back-to-back contests. Milwaukee has won seven games thus far in 2002-03 but have yet to win back-to-back games at any point in the season. Following Thursday's win at Wright State, the Panthers have now alternated wins and losses for six straight games, dating back to a 66-57 overtime loss to Detroit on Jan. 2. On the flip side, UWM has never lost more than two consecutive games at any time this season. UWM has alternated wins and losses 13 out of 17 times this year.

Viall's Record Night Paces Panthers If its possible for one player to singlehandedly domintate a game, Maria Viall came as close as one can come Thursday in UWM's 76-65 victory over Wright State. The junior center scored a season-high 28 points to go with a personal-best and school-record tying 21 rebounds. Viall connected on 12-of-18 shots from the field while controlling play on both ends of the court. Not to be outdone, senior guard Jessica Wilhite put the hammer on the Raiders with 22 points, nine of which came on three consecutive trifecta's during a 1:07 stretch of the second half. Freshman Nichole Drummond continued her fine play as she chipped in with 10 points.

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 60 trifectas on the year while the opposition has nearly doubled that amount with 112 three-balls. Furthermore, UWM is struggling percentage-wise from downtown, making just 28.4% of its tri-lighters while opponents are connecting on 37.1% from three-point land. Thus far in 2002-03, the Panthers have shot 30% or better from the three-point line in just six of 17 games.

Milwaukee Magic Numbers: 45 and 69 Success for the UWM women's basketball team is as easy as the two numbers shown: 45 and 69, as in 45% field goal shooting and 69 points per game. The Panthers are currently 7-1 on the season when shooting at least 45% from the floor in a game and 5-2 when scoring at least 69 points in a contest. Milwaukee is currently shooting 46.8% from the floor and scoring 73.7 points per game in the seven wins while connecting on just 39.9% of its shots in loses to go with a 59.3 scoring average.

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 the best such number in all-time, besting the +29 showing in a win versus Northeastern Illinois on January 22, 1991.

"Little Willy" Comes Up Big 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 five games Wilhite is averaging 14.6 ppg while connecting on 45.2% (24-53) of her shots from the floor. The senior floor leader has nailed 46.8% (15-32) of her trifectas to go with making all ten of her charity tosses. Furthermore, Wilhite has displayed an all-around game of late, averaging 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists to go with her scoring and shooting numbers.

"Near-Miss" Provides Light For Panthers One point. One turn of the possession arrow. One bounce off the rim. That's how close UWM came from pulling off the upset of the Horizon League season before falling 61-60 to No. 16 UW-Green Bay last Saturday. The Panthers, who trailed 30-25 at the half, played easily their best half of basketball in the second stanz and came within a 10-foot jump shot with :04 left from defeating the nationally-ranked Phoenix. How close was the game? Here's a look at the final statistics. Field goals: UWGB 26-56, UWM 25-54. Three-pointers: UWGB 5-13, UWM 5-15. Free throws: UWGB 4-5, UWM 5-7. Assists: UWGB 14, UWM 13. Fouls: UWGB 13, UWM. The one-point win marks the closest game UWGB played in any of its 16 victories.

Witte Makes Push For Freshman Honors Just seven games into her initial Horizon League season, guard Anne Witte is making waves across the league landscape. How good has the Mukwonago, Wis.-native been? Just ask UWGB head coach Kevin Borseth. Versus the Phoenix on Saturday, Witte scored a career-high 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including three, three-pointers and a perfect two-for-two from the free throw line. Then, on Thursday, Witte set a career-high while helping out her teammates, as she dished out seven assists versus WSU. Over the last six games No. 23 is averaging 9.5 points per game while shooting 46% from the floor, 37% from the three-point line to go with 21 assists, 18 rebounds and nine steals.

Panthers Finally Get Offensive What once was a problem has now become an asset for the UWM Panthers. Over the last five games UWM has improved what was a struggling offense into a high-scoring attack. During the recent five-game stretch, Milwaukee has improved its offensive production to 75.4 points per game, to push its overall season average to 65.3 ppg. Over the span, UWM is shooting 44.9% from the field, while connecting on 142 field goals, 22 three-pointers, and 71 free throws. Furthermore, UWM continues to create second-chance scoring opportunities which have led to an average of 17.2 offensive rebounds per contest.