Feb. 19, 2002

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MILWAUKEE -- The UWM women's basketball team (19-6, 13-1 Horizon) hopes to sweep its final two game of the season this week in order to claim its first outright regular-season title and top seed in the Horizon League Tournament. The Panthers travel to Youngstown State (11-14, 7-7 Horizon) for Thursday's matchup, then quickly return home to host Green Bay (20-6, 14-1 Horizon) on Saturday.

Milwaukee pulled out two crucial victories on the road last week, beating Cleveland State, 65-61, Thursday night and Detroit, 73-71, Saturday. The Panthers' wins, coupled with Green Bay's loss against Cleveland State Saturday, puts UWM in control of their own destiny for the regular season championship.

The Panthers must first focus on Youngstown State, which is coming off a 72-55 loss at the hands of Green Bay last Thursday. The Penguins are on a two-game skid and rank fifth in the league.

Green Bay saw its 14-game winning streak come to an end Saturday against Cleveland State on the road. The Phoenix shot just 34.5 percent and never led in their 66-55 loss to the Vikings.

SERIES HISTORY VS. YOUNGSTOWN

Milwaukee owns the all-time series record, 4-3, after beating the Penguins Feb. 2 at Klotsche, 100-46. Youngstown State is a newcomer to the Horizon League this season and had never played UWM during coach Sandy Botham's tenure. The last time the schools met prior to that was in 1992, with YSU picking up a 65-60 win.

SERIES HISTORY VS. GREEN BAY

The Phoenix hold the 34-14 series edge and beat the Panthers in overtime in their first meeting this year. Last season, UWM beat the Phoenix at home, 72-66, and again in the tournament championship, 77-62.

SCOUTING THE PENGUINS

YSU hasn't won more than two games in a row and is currently on a two-game skid. The Penguins lost to Green Bay by 17 points after allowing UWGB to shoot 54.2 percent. YSU shot 44 percent on the game, and trailed by just two points at halftime after matching Green Bay with 50 percent shooting. YSU's 20 turnovers contributed to 29 points for Green Bay. Heather Harris scored a game-high 19 points, while Cathy Hanek added 12 and Jen Horner pitched in with 10. Jen Perugini grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Harris leads the team in scoring with 14.2 ppg, followed by Perugini with 10.4 ppg and Horner with 10.2 ppg. YSU has been outscored this season by an average of 3.9 points and outrebounded by 2.2 boards per game.

SCOUTING THE PHOENIX

Green Bay had a 14-game winning streak going until it fell to Cleveland State Saturday. The Phoenix shot 34.5 percent, including 6-of-21 from behind the arc, and also hit just 9-of-16 from the line. Meanwhile, the Vikings made 20-of-26 free throws and shot 45.7 percent from the field. Both teams committed 21 turnovers, which is seven more than what Green Bay usually makes. The teams were also even on the boards with 36 rebounds each. The 2001 Player of the Year, Mandy Stowe, was held to six points on 3-of-14 from the field, while Sara Boyer led the squad on 5-of-14 field goals for 12 points. Elizabeth Dudley added 11 points and Amanda Leonhard scored 10.

Stowe ranks third in the league in scoring with 15.9 ppg behind Maria Viall, and 17th in rebounding with 4.8 rpg as a center. Kristy Loiselle ranks fourth in the league in assists with 4.46 apg behind Holly Tamm. Green Bay leads the league in several categories, including scoring offense and defense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, 3-pt field goal percentage, assists, turnover margin and rebounding defense.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Though UWM's two close road wins were good news, the Panthers celebrated even bigger news with Cleveland State's win over Green Bay. The Phoenix and the Panthers both have one loss in the league, but Green Bay, idle until its game against UWM, is still a game behind in the win column. A win Thursday night over Youngstown State, which the Panthers beat, 100-46, in their last match-up, would put UWM in a tie with UWGB at 14-1 in the league entering Saturday's contest. UWM and UWGB shared the regular-season title last year. If the Panthers lose to Youngstown State Thursday, they still would have a chance to share the regular-season crown with Green Bay with a win on Saturday.

INSIDE UWM'S TWO-POINT WIN OVER DETROIT

Jessica Wilhite hit two free throws with less than a second left to lift UWM over Detroit, 73-71, Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Though Wilhite scored the game-winning points, Holly Tamm took control of the Panthers in the second half and led with a career-high 27 points.

Tamm took the game into her own hands and scored six points down the stretch, including a three-point play that tied it up at 71 a piece with 58 seconds to go. Malika Willoughby grabbed a steal to give the Panthers the ball, but a turnover gave it back to Detroit with 12 seconds left. Molly Peterman's baseline shot hit the front of the rim, and Wilhite was fouled on the offensive rebound. Wilhite calmly nailed both shots at the line with .2 seconds on the clock to win the game.

Tamm scored 17 points in the second half and finished shooting 10-of-19 from the field, including 3-of-6 three pointers. She also contributed seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Maria Viall added 14 points, while Wilhite finished with 12 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Stefanie Kaufmann scored on a couple of key follow-ups late in the game and finished with 11 points.

Tied at the half, UWM pulled away on a 10-0 run to led by 13 points with 14:45 to go. Detroit hung in and definitely rode the momentum on the shoulders of Michelle James, who scored four of her team's five consecutive baskets. That cut the Titans deficit to just two points with 9:36 left.

Detroit finally took over the lead with about six minutes left, and UWM tied it up twice before falling behind, 69-64, with 2:50 to go. That's when Tamm charged back for the Panthers to tie it up one final time.

The 34-34 halftime score came from an up-tempo transition game, though Detroit slowed it down near the end of the half. The Panthers ended with 38-percent shooting and had 15 assists and 14 turnovers, but Detroit took a 44-33 advantage on the boards.

ALMOST A TRIPLE DOUBLE

Holly Tamm helped turn around the Panthers in the second half against Cleveland State to pull out the victory. Tamm had nine rebounds, five assists and five points in the half to get near to a triple double on the game. She finished with a career-high 14 rebounds, while also recording nine points and eight assists.

ALL-AROUND PLAYER

Holly Tamm may be the most all-around player for the Panthers, averaging 10.3 points and 4.5 assists per game. The senior guard has scored in double digits for UWM in 13 games this season, while currently ranking sixth in the school records book for single-season assists with 112. The senior captain is also consistent on defense, swiping 54 steals overall to tie Jessica Wilhite to lead the team. She has recorded five steals twice, four steals twice and three steals six times.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Holly Tamm was named the Horizon League Player of the Year Feb. 18th following her productive week in leading UWM to two close wins on he road. That is the third time this season a Panther was recognized with the honor, as Maria Viall was named back-to-back Player of the Week. Viall was recognized by the league Jan. 14th after pouring in a career-high 33 points against Butler. On Jan. 7th, she recorded double-doubles in consecutive league wins and averaged 18.5 points, 11 rebounds.

EIGHT PLAYER ROTATION FOR A WIN

Against Detroit, coach Sandy Botham used an eight-player rotation for just the second time this season and the third time in career at UWM. She used only eight Panthers in the 61-57 loss to Valparaiso earlier this season, and also just eight players when UWM lost to Dayton, 79-70, in 1996.

HISTORY LESSON

On the same road swing to Cleveland State and Detroit last season, the Panthers lost to Detroit, while Green Bay lost to Cleveland State. Later in the season, UWM beat UWGB at home to share with them the regular-season crown, but the Panthers could have taken the title solo had they beaten the Titans that same night Green Bay lost. The Panthers were able to make up for that this season in a similar situation. With Green Bay previously undefeated, the Panthers were able to pull out a close one at Detroit--where they haven't done so in four years--while Green Bay dropped its game at Cleveland State for the second straight year. The Panthers now control their destiny of taking a title if they win their last two games of the regular season--including the showdown with UWGB.

CLOSE GAMES

The two-point win over Detroit came as UWM's closest margin of victory this year, and just the fourth time UWM has won by five points or less. UWM has beaten teams by scoring in double digits on 12 occasions. The Panthers are 3-2 in games decided by five points or less. UWM played in two overtime games this season, falling to instate rivals Marquette (67-65) and Green Bay (83-75).

FOURTEEN-TREY FIESTA

Last time UWM took on Youngstown State, the Panthers nailed 14 three pointers to break the Division I school record for most treys in a game. UWM connected on 14-of-24, also recording a season-high 58.3 percent accuracy from beyond the arc. The previous record for team three pointers came when UWM tallied 13 against Chicago State on Jan. 25, 2000.

MARGIN OF VICTORY

UWM's 54-point margin of victory over Youngstown State on Feb. 2 broke the Division I school record. The previous record was 47 points, recorded on Jan. 22, 1991 in a 104-57 win over Northeastern Illinois at home. That win still holds the school record of most points scored by UWM, though the Panthers came close to the record this season with a 102-71 win over Detroit.

SEEING DOUBLE

Maria Viall has recorded five double-doubles on the season, including three in a four-game span. She did it in both games against Loyola, while also recording double-doubles against Green Bay, Saint Mary's and UIC. On three other occasions, she was shy of a double-double by just one rebound: 33 points vs. Butler, 22 points vs. Cleveland State and 20 points vs. Cleveland State.

THIRD PANTHER IN DOUBLE DIGITS

Holly Tamm's career-high of 27 points against Detroit put her over the hump in points per game. She now averages 10.3 ppg, and joins Maria Viall and Jessica Wilhite averaging in double figures. The last time UWM had three players end the season averaging in double digits was the 1999-00 season: Corin Von Wald (11.9), Daryl Schaffeld (10.8) and Jessica Wilhite (10.4).

FOUR MORE TO GO

UWM coach Sandy Botham needs just four more wins to grab her 100th UWM career victory. She currently holds a 96-69 record in her sixth year at UWM, and already reached 100 career wins overall this year in the season opener. She led Beloit College to a 22-4 record in one season and now holds a 118-73 career record in her seventh season as a head coach.

RECORD ATTEMPTS

Though the Panthers were just shy of the school record for most threes in a game when they connected on 13 against Wright State Feb. 7, they did break the school record for most three pointers attempted. UWM shot the three a school-record 37 times, beating the previous record of 30 attempts set last season against Green Bay.

CONSISTENT IN APPEARANCE

Stefanie Kaufmann broke the school record for most consecutive career games played when she took the floor against Cleveland State on the road. Kaufmann has now appeared in 110 straight career games, beating the previous Division I record of 108 held by Trina Rathke (1995-98) and Apryl Rodman (1994-98). Junior Jessica Wilhite (83), sophomore Maria Viall (55) and freshman Malika Willoughby (25) are the only other current players on pace for the same feat of playing every team game.

BEST 3-PT ACT YET THIS SEASON

Jessica Wilhite's 18 points against Wright State all came from behind the arc on Feb. 7. The junior guard made 6-of-12 three pointers to record a season high, beating the previous of five established against Loyola on Jan. 1. Wilhite's career record is 10 three pointers made last season against Green Bay, which also is a league and school record. This season she averages 2.4 treys a game, down from 3.1/game last season, but still ranks first in the league with 62 three pointers made.

HUNDRED HELPING HANDS

Senior guard Holly Tamm tallied her 100th assist of the season against Wright State after dishing out her second in the game. With 112 assists made through 25 games, she currently ranks seventh in the school's Division I record's book for single-season assists. She has the potential of reaching third if she keeps up with her current pace of 4.34 per game. The last time a Panther averaged at least four assists per game was during the 1996-97 season by Jen Greger. Greger's total of 129 assists holds third place in the records book from that season.

POURING IN THE POINTS

The Panthers' 25-point league victory against Loyola Feb. 4th marked the eighth time this season the Panthers have won by 20 or more points to set the school record. Milwaukee has posted seven of those wins in league play, and has outscored league opponents by 18.8 points per game.

STEALING HOME

With the last victory at home over Wright State, UWM extended its home league winning streak to 23 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. UWM has just one home game left on its schedule to remain undefeated in the league for the third straight year.

ROAD WARRIORS

UWM has won 10 games on the road so far this season, resetting the Division I school record for most road wins in a season. The previous record was six wins on the road, which UWM accumulated in 2000-01, 1999-00 and 1997-98. UWM has one away game left on its schedule entering this week, with a potential of one more if they play host Loyola at the Horizon League Tournament.

UWM'S RPI

Milwaukee is currently ranked 72nd in the latest release of the RPI according to collegerpi.com. The latest ranking is the highest for UWM in the three-year history of the women's RPI. In 2000-01 Milwaukee was at 116, while the Panthers finished the 1999-00 season at 157. The Panthers are projected to finish the season with a 21-6 record.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FACTS FACTS

With nine career double-doubles, sophomore Maria Viall has moved into a tie for third place with Pam Bartnik and Niki Flack 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.

ONE HUNDRED AND COUNTING

The Panthers have scored at least 100 points on two occasions this season, the first time in the program's history that they have done so. UWM defeated Detroit, 102-71, on Jan. 19, and beat Youngstown State, 100-46, on Feb. 2. UWM has recorded 100-point games two other times in its division I history, but has done it in separate seasons. The Panthers beat Cleveland State, 101-99, in the 1995-96 season and recorded a 104-57 victory over Northeastern Illinois in the 1990-91 season.

BATTLE OF THE BOARDS

UWM got beat on the boards against Detroit by 11 rebounds. The Titans' 44-33 advantage rebounding helped keep the game close, though the Panthers still got away with the two-point victory. Detroit broke UWM's four-game streak of outrebounding its opponents. The Panthers haven't been beaten on the boards in 16 of their 25 games, with eight of those coming in consecutive games. Detroit's +11 rebounding margin over UWM is the largest amount since the Panthers allowed Illinois State a +13 rebounding margin in the second game of the season. In the league, UWM ranks third in rebounding margin (+2.6).

PERFECT PLAY

Reserve Angela Wenzel came off the bench in the last game UWM played against Youngstown State to score 11 points. Her contribution came off of 4-of-4 field goals, including 3-of-3 treys, in 16 minutes of play. She has played in every game for the Panthers this season and has scored in double figures six times, including three times in a four-game span. She averages 57 percent from the field to lead the team, and also averages 42.3 percent from three-point range.

1,000-POINT CLUB

With 17 points against Green Bay, junior guard Jessica Wilhite became the 12th player in school history to record 1,000 career points. She currently has 1,085 career points and ranks ninth on the all-time career scoring list. Wilhite was also just the fourth player to reach 1,000 points in the school's Division I history. The last player to reach 1,000 points was Daryl Schaffeld (1996-00), who ended her career with 1,310 points. Wilhite needs just three more points to slip into eighth place of the all-time career leaderboard in the records book past Camie Nonof (1,087).

HELPING HAND

Only once this season has UWM assist leader Holly Tamm failed to dish out at an assist. That day came against UIC on Jan. 31, when Tamm recorded 10 points and two steals, but no assists. On the season, she averages 4.48/game, good for fifth in the league. She has recorded at least four assists in 17 games and at least five in 11 games, while tying a career-high eight assists twice this season. In the league, she averages five assists per game while also scoring 11.7 points. Tamm also takes care of the ball as she is ranked second in the league in assist/turnover ratio with a 2.22 ratio.

DON'T TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

After consecutive games of recording more assists than turnovers, the Panthers got a little careless against Wright State with 18 turnovers and 14 assists. However, Milwaukee minded itself in its next matchup against Cleveland State to stay even with 20 a piece. It then improved against Detroit on Saturday, recording 15 assists and 14 turnovers. The Panthers have recorded more assists than turnovers in 13 games this season.

LEAGUE STREAK ENDED

Though UWM hasn't been beaten by a league foe at home through 23 consecutive games played at the Klotsche Center, the Panthers saw their 16-game win streak against league teams end on Jan. 26. Green Bay handed UWM its first league loss since Feb.8, 2001. UWM won its first seven games in the league this season after finishing last season having won the last nine meetings against league opponents. The Panthers were on a six-game winning streak entering the MCC Tournament last year and then swept all three opponents to claim the championship.

FREE THROW WOES

The Panthers made just 4-of-11 free throws against Green Bay to record a season-low 36.4 percent at the line. That percentage also ranks as the second-lowest in school Division I history, with the lowest coming in at 35.3 in 1995. UWM's game against the Phoenix tied a season record for fewest free throws, with the other coming on a 4-of-7 performance at Valparaiso. On the season, the Panthers have recorded single digits at the line just five times.

GIANT VICTORY

The 102 points UWM scored against Detroit came as the second highest total in school history. It also came as the first time since 1996 that the Panthers scored over 100 points. On Feb. 17, 1996, UWM beat Cleveland State in overtime, 101-99. The school record for most points scored is 104, which UWM recorded in a 104-57 win on Jan. 22, 1991 against Northeastern Illinois.

YEAH, BUT CAN THEY PLAY DEFENSE?

The Panthers did some editing in their record book following two straight games. On Jan. 19 against Detroit, the Milwaukee offense stole the show with a 102-71 victory over Butler. On Jan. 23, it was the patented UWM defense that put on a clinic. Butler's 39 points and 12 field-goals made stand as the second-lowest among opponents in school history. The Panthers also held the Bulldogs to just 24 percent shooting on 12-of-50 shots, including 4-of-25 in the second half. The shooting percentage ranks third lowest among Milwaukee opponents.

STREAKS A' PLENTY

After starting the season 4-5, Milwaukee rattled off nine-straight wins to tie the school record. The Panthers' streak ended Jan. 26 after their loss to Green Bay, but the nine-game ride came for the second year in a row. UWM broke the previous record of eight-straight wins last season, with the ninth win coming in the MCC Championship game against UW-Green Bay (Duke ended that streak in the NCAA Tournament). The Panthers are currently on a six-game winning streak and could break the school record with two regular season games left and a possibility of three more in the league tournament.

HALF A RECORD

Though it didn't set the school record for most points in a game, the win over Detroit on Jan. 19 did allow UWM to reset the school record for most points in a half. The Panthers poured in 59 points in the second half, beating the previous record of 53 points scored in the first half against Northeastern Illinois in the 1990-91 season.

PANTHER DEFENSE

UWM's tenacious defense forced 31 turnovers from Butler on Jan. 23, the highest amount an opponent has coughed up this season. Against Cleveland State Feb. 14, UWM forced 20 turnovers to record the 17th time this season it has forced an opponent to commit at least 20 turnovers. The Panthers force an average of 21.4 turnovers per contest and ranks second in the league with a +4.04 turnover margin.

FRESHMEN LEADERS

Point guard Malika Willoughby led the team in scoring against Wright State on Jan. 10, 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 led the Panthers in scoring. Forward Christine Gutierrez guided UWM with a team-high 14 points at Bowling Green Dec. 8.

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.

CAREER DAY FOR VIALL

Maria Viall scored 33 points against Butler to eclipse her previous career high of 30 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.

SCORING STREAK

Maria 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 on Jan. 10. Overall, she has scored in single digits just four times on the season. 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 rattled off nine-straight wins, and hold a 15-1 record overall when she starts.

UP THE CHARTS

Also making news with career leaderboards is sophomore center Maria Viall. Viall has 40 blocks this season, giving her 72 career blocks to tie Niki Flack for fourth place in the school records book. Viall is looking to make a run at UWM's Division I school record of 47 blocks in a single season, held by Erica Young (1993-94). The all-time career leader in blocks is Camie Nonof with 136 blocks.

BOOK WORM

Maria Viall has done a lot of reading and writing this season, as she has etched her name into seven categories in the UWM season records book. Currently she ranks: 5th in points (407), 2nd in points per game (16.3), 2nd in field goals made (163), 1st in field goal percentage (.564), 10th in rebounds (164), sixth in rebounds per game (6.6) and 2nd in blocks (40).

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. She has made at least one three pointer in every other game 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.

FIRST-HALF RINGER

2001-02 Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Jessica Wilhite exploded against Loyola on Jan. 3, going off for a school-record 24 first-half points. She shot 8-of-12 in the first half, including 5-of-6 three pointers, and made 3-of-5 free throws.

SPARK PLUG AGAINST CLEVELAND STATE

In UWM's match-up against the Vikings on Jan. 17, reserve forward Angela Wenzel came off the bench to score 17 points. That came on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 at the line. Wenzel has come off the bench in every game this season and has helped UWM with double-digit scoring on five occasions.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Jessica Wilhite and Maria Viall were named to the Gran Tree Classic All-Tournament team on Nov. 25-26 at Montana State.

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 16.3 points per game, while Wilhite is second with 13.2 ppg. Viall ranks second in the Horizon League in scoring, while Wilhite ranks 10th.

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 12th opportunity.

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.