Jan. 27, 2003

MILWAUKEE - A school-record. Season-highs in scoring. Two double-doubles. A pair of road victories. Such was the week for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball player Maria Viall. Viall, who averaged 28 points and 17 rebounds as UWM posted league wins at Wright State and Butler, was honored for her efforts this past week as she was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday (Jan. 27).

"Maria dominated play this week like we know she can," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "She played to the best of her ability in both games and she really took advantage of the mismatches she creates inside. She took it upon herself to control the games this weekend."

The 2001-02 Horizon League Player of the Year and 02-03 Preseason POY, Viall dominated the competition as Milwaukee won back-to-back games for the first time this season thanks to a 76-65 win at Wright State on Thursday and a 70-62 victory at Butler on Saturday. The Waukesha, Wis.-native played arguably the best game of her career versus WSU, scoring a season-high 28 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the floor. In the contest, Viall grabbed 21 rebounds, ten of which came on the offensive end, to tie the school-record for most rebounds in a game. The junior added two blocked shots, an assist, and a steal in the 11-point victory over the Raiders.

Viall continued her dominant play on Saturday, when she again led all scorers and rebounders in the Panther's victory at Butler. No. 24 finished the game with another 28-point outburst, this time connecting on 11-of-15 shots and six-of-eight from the free throw line. Viall added 13 more rebounds to give her six "double-doubles" on the season.

The 6-3 center currently leads the Horizon League in field goal percentage (57.2%) and blocked shots (1.94 per game), is second in rebounding (9.6), third in scoring (18.2 ppg), and ninth in free throw percentage (71.7%).

Currently UWM is 8-10 overall and 4-4 in league play while winning three of its last four games. Milwaukee will look for three in a row on Wednesday (Jan. 29) when Chicago State University comes to the Klotsche Center for a 7 p.m. non-conference showdown.