Panthers Comeback Falls Short In European Finale, 85-78
MECHELEN, Belgium (May 25, 2008) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball trailed by as many as 14, before pulling within two late in the fourth quarter before falling to Sint Kateline Waver, 85-78, Sunday evening at Sport Hall TC Heiveld. The Panthers fell for the first time in four games in Europe, wrapping up the trip with a 3-1 record. UWM now heads to Paris, France, Monday before returning to the States Wednesday. Junior Traci Edwards led Milwaukee with her third-straight double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Freshman Jineen Williams went off for 10 points in the third quarter alone and finished with 14 points. five rebounds and three assists. Freshman Lindsay Laur nearly added a double-double of her own with 11 points and nine boards. Five of the seven players that saw action for Sint Kateline Waver reached double-figures, led by 29 from S. Hendrix. Jana Raman was next on the team with 17 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Playing their third game in as many days, the Panthers came out of the gates sluggish, falling down 22-10 after one quarter of play. The deficit would reach 14 points early in the second quarter before UWM began to get back into the game. By halftime, the deficit was 10 and Milwaukee was poised to take the momentum of the game. After Sint Kateline Waver took the wind out of the Panthers' sails by going up 61-47, Williams sparked a 9-1 run to cut the home team's lead to six at 62-56. Back-to-back baskets by Edwards and junior Katie Fournier made it a 65-62 game heading into the decisive quarter. A 7-2 Panther run early in the fourth quarter made it a 73-71 game before Sint Kateline Waver began to pull away. The hosts a three-pointer, then two free throws to open a seven-point cushion. Finally, after a Markita Barnes jumper, four more charity tosses made it 83-75 with just over a minute to play.
Laur hit a late three-pointer to make it a five-point game, but Milwaukee could not could any closer. UWM was perfect on the boards during its exhibition slate, outrebounding a fourth-straight opponent. Despite pulling down 70 more rebounds over the first three games of the trip, Milwaukee held just a 44-39 edge tonight. They also turned the ball over just 18 times, while forcing 25 miscues on the other end of the floor. The Panthers also benefited from a balanced scoring column, as 10 players scored and, aside from the three double-digit scorers, Fournier, junior Turquoise McCain and freshman Jenilee Klomstad each tallied seven points. |
