The Panthers are playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2001
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UWM Plays Michigan State In NCAA 1st Round
13th-seed Panthers playing in first tourney since 2001
NCAA First Round
No. 13 Milwaukee Panthers (22-8)
vs. No. 4 Michigan State Spartans (22-9)
Game 31 // Saturday, March 18 • 11 a.m.
Allstate Arena (18,500) • Rosemont, Ill.
Television: ESPN2 • Radio: 1290 AM WMCS
uwmpanthers.com: Live Stats and Audio
NCAA Tournament Media Guide in PDF Format
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (March 16, 2006) - Playing in its first NCAA Tournament since 2001, and second ever, the 13th-seeded University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team takes on No. 4 seed Michigan State Saturday in the tourney's first round. UWM and MSU will tip off at 11 a.m. at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., live on ESPN2. The Panthers earned the Horizon League's automatic berth, while the 16th-ranked Spartans earned an at-large bid after finishing third in the Big Ten. The winner will take on the winner of Kentucky vs.Chattanooga Monday in the second round.
Follow The Panthers
Fans have several options for following the Panthers through the NCAA Tournament. The game will be carried live on ESPN2. On the radio, Bob Brainerd will call the action on 1290 AM WMCS in Milwaukee. The pregame show kicks off at 10:45 a.m. The audio will also be available on uwmpanthers.com, as will live stats.
Tournament Seeding
The Panthers earned the No. 13 seed in the NCAA's Bridgeport (CT) Regional. Meanwhile, Michigan State landed the No. 4 seed. The winner faces the winner of Kentucky and Chattanooga Monday. UK earned the fifth seed in the region, while the Mocs are the 12 seed.
Scouting Michigan State
Michigan State is playing in its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament after falling in the NCAA Championship game last season. The Spartans are ranked 16th in the nation and finished third in the Big Ten. In the conference tournament, MSU fell in the semifinals to No. 2 Ohio State. Senior forward Liz Shimek leads the team with 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Two more Spartans are averaging over 10 points, while the team outrebounds its opponents by 5.8 boards per game.
Series History
UWM and Michigan State have met just once before, with the Spartans picking up the 61-48 win Dec. 12, 1992, in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the Panthers have posted a 5-21 mark against Big Ten teams, including a 1-2 record this season. UWM last defeated a ranked foe Dec. 13, 1997, 88-76 vs. No. 13 Nebraska, its only such win.
A Look At Kentucky And Chattanooga
Both Kentucky and Chattanooga are receiving votes in the AP National Poll. The Wildcats earned an at-large berth into the tourney after finishing fourth in the SEC and falling to LSU in the conference semifinals. The Mocs ran roughshot through the Southern Conference, finishing 18-0, and winning the SoCon Tournament. They have won a Division I-best 26-straight games.
Field Familiarity
Milwaukee has played six games against NCAA Tournament teams during the regular season, posting a 3-3 record. The Panthers defeated Oakland for their first win of the season and followed that with two wins against Southeast Missouri State. UWM also fell to DePaul, Iowa and Oklahoma. Oklahoma (No. 2), DePaul (4), Iowa (10) and SEMO (14) were all placed in the San Antonio Regional, while Oakland is the 16th seed in the Albuquerque Regional.
More Post-Season Opponents
Two more Panther opponents were invited into post-season play with UW-Green Bay and Marquette earning berths in the WNIT. UWM went 2-1 against the two teams, topping UWGB twice and falling at Marquette.
We've Been Here Before
UWM's only other NCAA Tournament trip came in 2001, when it won the MCC Tournament and took on Duke in the first round. The Panthers earned the No. 16 seed and lost to the No. 1 Blue Devils, 96-63, in Durham, N.C. That year, Milwaukee posted a then-Division I school record with 19 wins (19-11) and won the team's first Division I league titles, also sharing the regular season crown.
Tourney Experience
While head coach Sandy Botham is all that remains from the 2001 NCAA Tourney squad, the team has a wealth of NCAA experience. Botham has also guided Beloit College to the second round of the 1996 Division III Tourney and was an assistant on two Notre Dame tournament teams. Sophomore Aubri Rote is the only player with tourney experience, helping Lakeland to the D-III Tournament in 2004 before transfering to UWM.
On the staff, assistant coach Holly Spoo played in four Division III tournaments and coached another and John Motherwell helped Minnesota Moorhead to the D-II tournament in his last season there. Director of basketball operations LaTrisa Jackson has also been a part of two tourney teams in administrative levels.
How We Got Here
Milwaukee is coming off its second league tournament title, defeating UIC, 71-63, in the league title game March 6 at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers also picked up wins over Butler (58-57) in the semifinals and Loyola (76-56) in the quarters. UWM was 12 seconds from elimination in the semifinals when senior Molly O'Brien capped a late comeback and hit the game-winning shot with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Tourney Accolades
Freshman Traci Edwards was named Tournament MVP after posting 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in the title game. For the tourney, she averaged 17.7 points, 8.0 boards, 6.0 assists and two blocks per game. Molly O'Brien also earned All-Tournament honors with averages of 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
All-League Honors
Edwards was rewarded for her standout season by being named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and to the all-league first team. Senior Nichole Drummond joined her on the first team and was named to the all-defensive team. This marked the first time the Panthers landed two players on the league's first team. Sophomore transfer Meredith Onson also joined Edwards on the all-newcomer team.
Coach Of The Year
Head coach Sandy Botham was named Horizon League Coach of the Year for the third time in her 10-year tenure. She previously earned the award in her first season (1997) and in the Panthers' previous championship season (2001).
Going Streaking
The Panthers have pushed their current school-record winning streak to 12 games entering the NCAA Tournament. The run eclipsed the previous school standard of nine games, achieved twice. The streak is also the eighth-longest current streak in Division I.
Happy New Year!
UWM ended 2005 on a sour note, losing to Butler in overtime after overcoming a large, late deficit. But, since the calendar switched to 2006, the Panthers have been all smiles. Milwaukee has won 17-of-18 games this calendar year including to its 12-game win streak.
Reaching New Heights
Thanks to the Panthers' recent success, they have pushed their record to 22-8. The 22 wins set a team Division I record, trumping the team's 20-8 mark posted in 2001-02. UWM's run has also led to the team eclipsing a school standard with its 31st game of the season.
Close, But... Yes Cigar
Milwaukee's semifinal contest vs. Butler was the its 10th game this season decided by five-or-less points. How has UWM responded in these close games? Quite well, actually, posting an 8-2 mark. Included in that total is a 2-1 record in one-point games, while two have been decided on winning shots inside the final five seconds against Butler. March 5, it was Molly O'Brien's layup with 4.8 seconds remaining in regulation that sealed the win. The Panthers dropped the previous contest on two free throws with five ticks remaining in overtime.
We Are The Champions
With UWM's win over Loyola Feb. 25, it clinched its second league championship and first since sharing the title with UW-Green Bay in 2000-01. The Panthers are once again co-champions with UWGB, but earned the top seed by virtue of a regular season sweep of the Phoenix. Milwaukee was the top seed in the tournament for the first time in team history.
My Ball. Not Yours.
Turnovers hounded UWM early in the season, but the team has taken extra special care of the ball recently. In their last three games prior to the league title game, the Panthers posted their three lowest turnover totals, including just nine against Loyola in the league quarterfinals. In that span, Milwaukee gave the ball away just 36 times, lowering its season average almost one turnover per game (20.1-19.3). While turning the ball over just 36 times in the last three games, the team has dished out 64 assists in that time. The championship game was a hiccup in its recent trend, as Milwaukee turned over the ball 23 times, its highest figure in over a month.
Taking Things National
The Panthers are popping up in the national statistic rankings lately, sitting among the top 50 in five categories when the NCAA released its latest statistics Monday. Their best field has been assists and rebounding. The team is 17th in assists and 21st in rebounding margin among the 324 Division I schools. UWM is also 27th in field goal percentage, 30th with just 15.6 personal fouls per game and 41st in win percentage (.733).
With a Little Help from My Friends
With "just" 35 assists over their last two games, the Panthers saw their streak of 20-assist contests came to an end at three. They did, however, run past the school record of 469 (2000-01) and the 500-assist mark for the first time (504). Part of the team's record pace of 16.8 per game has been six games with 20-or-more dimes. Four of the team's starters have eclipsed 50 assists, with sophomore Meredith Onson leading the team at 96. Molly O'Brien has 93, Traci Edwards 78 and Nichole Drummond 57. The team leader in assists over the past three seasons has finished with 68, 69 and 78.
Individually Speaking...
Edwards' total seems most impressive, in relative terms. She has sprinted past the school record for assists by a center of 49, set by Kimberly Becker last season. Meanwhile, Onson has a chance to become the first UWM player to 100 assists in a season since 2001-02, while O'Brien has a chance to join her for the first 100-assist UWM teammates since the 1999-00 season.
Cleaning The Glass Like Windex
As evidenced by their national standing, the Panthers have found success rebounding the ball this season. They led the league by over 3.1 boards per game, while their rebounding margin of +6.4 is 5.9 better than the next best team (Youngstown, +0.5). In league play, Milwaukee's numbers were even better, as its 40.1 rpg average was 4.3 better than second-best and its rebounding margin of +10.6 was 7.6 better than second. UWM has outrebounded 23-of-30 opponents this season, posting a 20-3 record in those games. While going just 2-4 in games where opponents have pulled down more boards, UWM has won its last two games in that instance.
Sharp Shooters
Milwaukee has done its best to reduce rebounding chances, shooting the ball at a record pace this season. It has hit on 44.6 percent of its shots from the field. The school record is 44.3 percent, set in 1991-92. In league play, that figure jumped to a league-best 46.6 percent.
Stifling Defense
On the other end of the court, UWM has been getting the job done, as well. The Panthers lead the league in opponent field goal percentage, both overall (42.0%) and in league-only games (39.0%). Just one league team eclipsed 45 percent shooting (46% at Butler) against Milwaukee during the regular season, while nine times its opponent was held to 37.5 percent or lower. UWM also finished the league slate with 14 stretches of five minutes-or-more where an opponent was held without a field goal.
Oops, We Did It Again
Milwaukee first hosted Butler on New Year's Eve and overcame a 64-46 deficit over the final 6:52 of regulation to force overtime with the teams tied 67-67. In the semifinals, the Bulldogs led 53-42 with 7:26 to play. This time, UWM outscored its guests 16-4 down the stretch for the 58-57 win.
Head Strong
Feb. 16 against Detroit, Molly O'Brien left the game after a head-to-head collision with UDM's Katie Solner. She required stitches and has since donned a headband to cover the wound. With the headband, she is averaging 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists over six games. She is also shooting 60.7 percent (34-56) from the field and 50 percent (7-14) from beyond the arc.
I Like This Starting Thing
Freshman Kim Wypiszynski entered the starting lineup in time for the league tournament following a season-ending injury to sophomore Dana Schultz. Playing in her first post-season, the 6-1 rookie has flourished, averaging 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds during the tourney. She also converted two free throws with 1:24 remaining in the semifinals to pull the Panthers within one at 57-56 and set up the game-winning opportunity.
Injury Update
Dana Schultz will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury suffered in practice. Schultz had started 26 of the first 27 games this season, averaging 3.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. It is not the same knee that cost Schultz her true sophomore season.
In And Out
Nichole Drummond and Traci Edwards give the Panthers a formidable inside/outside punch that was on display at Butler Feb. 11. The duo combined for 45 points on 20-of-26 shooting. It was the third game this season they each topped 20 points. One of them has scored team-high points in 26-of-30 games and at least one has scored double digits in all but one game. Drummond and Edwards have also both scored at least 10 points in 19 contests. Currently, Edwards leads the team with 16.2 points per game, while Drummonds is averaging 12.3.
20/20 Vision
Edwards has 15 double-doubles this season, but it was No. 9 that proved to be the most impressive. At Wright State Jan. 26, she scored a team-high 21 points and pulled down a school-record 22 rebounds. The rookie center broke the school mark of 21 reached last by Maria Viall twice during the 2002-03 season. The game was Milwaukee's first 20/20 game since the second of those games, Feb. 2, 2003. The 22 boards are also tied for second in history for a Horizon League game. Feb. 13, Edwards nearly matched her record-setting rebound feat, pulling down 21 boards vs. UW-Green Bay.
Quite The Effect
Traci Edwards' 20-rebound games have her averaging over 10 per game. While posting double-doubles in half of her games, she is on pace to be just the fourth Panther to average a double-double for a season. Maria Viall did it in each of her last two seasons, while Erica Young also accomplished the feat in 1993-94. She also sits just 11 boards from tying Viall's single-season rebounding record of 315.
Efficient Ain't She
Edwards has been receiving a lot of attention this season for her gaudy scoring and rebounding totals, but what has been most impressive has been her efficiency from the field. Edwards is shooting 59.5 percent from the field this season, a figure that is 11th in the nation. Among fellow freshman, her shooting percentage ranks second nationally. The school record for field goal percentage in a season is 57.5 by Maria Viall in 2001-02.
Caught 1,000
With a lay-in just over midway through the first half against UW-Green Bay Feb. 4, Nichole Drummond became the 14th member of Milwaukee's 1,000 point club. She is also the sixth player to do it in UWM's Division I era. Maria Viall, in 2002-03, had been the last player to reach 1,000 and finished her career with a school-record 1,867 points. Drummond now has 1,142 career points and has jettisoned to No. 9 on the school's all-time scoring list, passing five members of the 1,000-point club this season. With 11 points in the NCAA Tournament, she could pass high Rachel Mickelson (1,152 points) for eighth.
Players Of The Week
Nichole Drummond was named Horizon League Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks this season, earning her second-straight honor Feb. 13. Overall, the Panthers garnered the award three-straight times and four times on the year. Traci Edwards earned the award twice, Jan.30 and Jan. 9.
Freshmen Host Block Party
Freshman Traci Edwards has 48 blocks this season, a UWM freshman record and second-best in school history, five shy of the standard. Fellow frosh Katie Fournier is second on the team with 13 on the year and blocked seven shots in a two-game stretch Feb. 18-23, including five against Youngstown State Feb. 18. That figure is tied for second-most in a game in team history. The rookie blocks don't stop there, as Emily Markert is fourth on the team, having seven blocks this season.
Change Of Pace
The 2004-05 Panthers established themselves as a guard-oriented squad and set school records for three-pointers made and attempted in a season. This season, UWM has gone inside, and is averaging almost seven less three-point attempts per game (20.7-14.1). In fact, in back-to-back games against Wright State (Jan. 5) and Youngstown State (Jan. 14), the Panthers attempted just 14 treys, including a season-low six at YSU. Milwaukee has eclipsed 20 three-point tries just twice this season after hitting the mark 19 times last year. Meanwhile, it has attempted 11 or fewer nine times, going 6-3 in those games, and winning its last six.
But, There Are Exceptions
With added pressure of opponents in the paint on Traci Edwards, the Panthers have still taken advantage of their outside chances. At Green Bay Feb. 4, UWM attempted a season-high 26 three-pointers, hitting on a season-high nine. It's next outing was more conservative, as Milwaukee hit 6-of-11 from behind the arc for a season-best 54.5 percent. The team is 10-0 this season when making at least six three's, doing so last in the league championship game (6-13).
On Their Best Behavior
The Panthers have been on their best behavior this season on the basketball court. In fact, when Molly O'Brien fouled out at Wright State Jan. 26, she was just the second UWM player to do so this season. That is tied for tops in the league (UW-Green Bay). That game, Milwaukee committed 19 fouls after a then-season-low 10 fouls against UIC and its previous best of 11 the game before that at Northwestern. Feb. 13 against UW-Green Bay, the Panthers were whistled for just nine. On the other side of things, opponents are averaging 3.4 fouls more than UWM and have had 16 players foul out this season.
Coaching Milestones
Sandy Botham became the second coach in league history with 100 wins when UWM topped Cleveland State Jan. 28. She joined Green Bay's Kevin Borseth in the club. He won his 100th league contest earlier this season. For Botham, it was the second notable milestone she reached this season, surpassing 150 wins at UWM Jan. 12 at Youngstown State. She is one of just two coaches in school history to reach the mark, joining M.A.Kelling (284).
Swept Away
UWM completed a season sweep of Loyola Feb. 25, its sixth sweep of a league team this season. Under Sandy Botham, the Panthers have completed 38 league sweeps, while being swept just seven times in 10 seasons. Youngstown State picked up a rare sweep against Milwaukee last season, the first sweep by a team other than UW-Green Bay since 1998-99.
Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
Milwaukee's win at UIC Feb. 23 gave UWM sweet revenge for its loss at the UIC Pavilion last season. In fact, UWM has avenged each of its five league losses from last season, including sweeps of both Youngstown State and UWGB.
Preseason Poll
The Panthers were picked to finish third in the Horizon League in the annual league preseason poll of coaches, SIDs and media. Milwaukee, which finished second or better in the league in each of the last six seasons, received 167 points to finish behind UW-Green Bay (221 points) and Wright State (178). The Phoenix received 23 first place votes with UWM collecting the other two. Seniors Nichole Drummond and Molly O'Brien were also named to preseason all-league teams, with Drummond getting a first-team nod and O'Brien being named to the second team.
League Success
UWM came into the season looking to build on a strong tradition of success in league play and did not disappoint. The Panthers finished second or better in the league in each of the last seven seasons, including a co-regular season championships in 2001 and 2006. Over that time, they have compiled a 84-24 (.778) league record, trailing only UW-Green Bay (96-12), while the next best record is UIC at 57-51.
League Standings Snce 1999-00
UW-Green Bay 96-12 (.889)
Milwaukee 84-24 (.778)
UIC 57-51 (.528)
Detroit 56-52 (.519)
Wright State 44-64 (.407)
Butler 39-69 (.361)
Cleveland State 39-69 (.361)
Loyola 34-74 (.315)
Youngstown State* 23-57 (.288)
* YSU joined the league in 2001-02
No Easy Task
Head coach Sandy Botham has traditionally scheduled a tough non-league slate to get her team ready for the Horizon League season. This year is no different, as the Panthers face a total of four teams that advanced to the post-season last year. After opening the season with an NCAA Tourney team in Oklahoma, UWM had a stretch of six-straight opponents that won 20-or-more games in 2004-05, including nationally-ranked DePaul. The Blue Demons advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Iowa (Nov. 20) and Marquette (Dec. 18) qualified for the WNIT after last season, with the Hawkeyes making it to the semifinals. In their six-game stretch against 20-win foes, Milwaukee posted a respectable 3-3 record.
New Faces On The Sidelines
The Milwaukee sideline will feature a few new faces in 2005-06, most notably with the addition of a pair of new assistant coaches. John Motherwell and Holly Spoo were named to the Panther staff over the summer, joining Jennifer Murphy, who is in her second season. Motherwell came to UWM from Minnesota State Moorhead, while Spoo spent last season at Wayne State College in Nebraska. Also new in 2005-06 are director of basketball operations LaTrisa Jackson and the team's athletic trainer Renee Manofsky.
Up Next
UWM is playing for a place in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, where it would take on the winner of Kentucky and Chattanooga. The winners of those games will meet Monday at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
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