Jan. 12, 2011

Final Stats

Final Stats in PDF Format

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Forty minutes was not enough to decide a Horizon League women's basketball showdown on Wednesday night, but in the end the Milwaukee Panthers knocked off the UIC women's basketball team in overtime at the Klotsche Center, 85-78.

The Panthers (5-11, 2-3 Horizon League) used 12 three-pointers and near-perfect free-throw shooting down the stretch to sink the Flames (7-8, 2-2 Horizon League) on Wednesday. Milwaukee, which entered the game ranked fourth in the NCAA with a free throw percentage of 79.3-percent, was even better than that at 86.4-percent (19-for-22) in the win.

Following a timeout with 1:25 remaining and the score tied at 69, the Flames really cranked it up on the defensive end and forced the Panthers into a shot clock violation. Milwaukee returned the favor when UIC got the ball and forced a held ball with two seconds left on the shot clock and 30.8 seconds to play in the game. The Panthers Anne Breland came up with a loose ball and fired the ball at the rim as the seconds ticked off the clock, but the ball didn't fall and the teams got ready for an extra overtime period.

In overtime, Milwaukee took its first lead of the frame when Ashley Imperiale hit a lay-up and was fouled to give her team an 80-78 advantage, one they would never relinquish, with 1:10 to go in the extra session. On the next possession, the Flames Jasmine Bailey got a shot off, but it drew front iron and Lindsay Laur grabbed the rebound and was fouled. She sank both free throws to make it a four-point lead for the home team en route to the seven-point win.

"This league is a bear and we know that," said UIC head coach Lisa Ryckbosch. "Milwaukee is a very good team and we knew that coming in, as well. You can't afford to take one or two possessions off and we unfortunately did that tonight."

Imperiale, who recently returned from an injury, scored 19 second-half points, including three three-pointers.

"She [Imperiale] has been a great player in this league and she showed it again tonight," said Ryckbosch. "Once she gets going and hits that first one, her confidence grows and she becomes even more dangerous."

UIC had built the lead to 46-37 at the 14:59 mark, but a 9-0 run by the Panthers made it a tie game just over three minutes later. A three-point basket by freshman Angela Rodriguez with 10:57 remaining gave Milwaukee its first lead since a 17-15 advantage with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

The opportunistic Flames built a six-point halftime advantage on the strength of a swarming defensive attack. UIC forced Milwaukee to commit 14 turnovers in the opening half which led to 15 points for the visitors. The Flames entered the game averaging 9.3 steals per game and they collected eight in the opening half. UIC scored 19 fast break points in the opening 20 minutes of play, while the Panthers only mustered four such points.

After struggling from the field last time out against Loyola, the Flames regained their shooting touch from the field as they sank the rock at a clip of 48.5-percent in the first half.

UIC's Shameia Green led all players in the game with 13 points in the first half, while Laur had the hot hand for the home team, tallying 10 points, six of which came from behind the arc. Erin Higgins also had a strong showing off the bench in the first half for the Flames as she chipped in with five points in eight minutes of action. Freshman Emily Kobel also had two boards of the bench in four minutes on the floor.

Green finished with a game-high 28 points, while Laur and Rodriguez each had 20 for Milwaukee. Briana Hinkle (14 points), Bailey (13 points) and Taylor Foulks (10 points) were also in double figures for the Flames.

UIC will be back on the hardwood for the finale of a three-game road trip when they travel to face the Green Bay Phoenix on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

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