March 5, 2003

GREEN BAY - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior center Maria Viall was named to the Horizon League Women's Basketball First-Team here Wednesday (Mar. 5) in a voting of league head coaches, sports information directors, and media members. Viall, the 2001-02 League Player of the Year, became the first player in UWM history to earn back-to-back first-team accolades.

Viall, a native of Waukesha, Wis., currently leads Milwaukee in scoring (17.9 ppg), rebounding (10.3 rpg), blocks (1.9 bpg), and field goal shooting (57.0%). The blocked shot and shooting numbers are the best in the Horizon League while the rebounding and scoring marks are good for second and fourth, respectively. The 6-3 center is currently sixth all-time on the UWM scoring and rebounding charts with 1,315 points and 646 rebounds in three seasons. Furthermore, her 290 rebounds this year are tops on the school's single-season list, as is her 10.3 rebound per game average.

"I'm excited for Maria to see her get this honor," UWM head coach Sandy Botham said. "I think she has proven herself throughout the league and non-league seasons that as one of the most dominant players in the league and it's nice to see her get recognized for it."

Viall, the only junior on the First-Team, was joined by seniors Jaysie Chambers and LaKesha Williams of Illinois-Chicago, sophomore Tiffany Webb of Wright State and senior, and Player of the Year, Kristy Loiselle of UW-Green Bay. UWGB, the regular season league champions, placed two players on the second team in seniors Sara Boyer and Elizabeth Dudley. The two Phoenix players were joined on the second-team by senior Sarah Hamilton of Loyola, and senior Erika Roudebush of Cleveland State and junior Ashley Schrock of CSU.

In addition to Viall's recognition, the future of the UWM program looks bright as the Panthers placed two student-athletes on the five-player All-Newcomer Team. Nichole Drummond, a freshman from Kenosha, Wis. and fellow rookie Anne Witte of Mukwonago, Wis. comprised 40% of the Newcomer squad.

Drummond, who averages 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, turned it up a notch in league play, boasting averages of 9.1 points and 4.9 boards per contest, while dishing out 37 assists to go with 21 steals in 14 starts. The 5-9 Witte has played 26.2 minutes per game in 2002-03, good for third highest on the squad. No. 23 currently boasts per game norms of 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while ranking second on the team with 25 three-pointers made. Witte, who upped her averages to 6.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, and 2.6 apg in Horizon League action, has connected on 41-of-45 free throws on the year, good for 91.1%.

"I knew that Anne and Nichole would have an impact on our program when I recruited them and its nice to see them do that so early in their career," Botham noted. "The experience they are getting as freshmen is really going to help them and the program in the years to come."

Milwaukee, which finished the regular season 15-12 and 11-5 in the Horizon League, will open up play in the quarterfinals of the league tournament Thursday as the No. 3 seed. The Panthers will face No. 6 seed Cleveland State at 2:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Sports Center on the UW-Green Bay campus.