Game #14
Detroit @ Milwaukee
Date: Jan. 7, 2010
Time: 7 p.m. Central
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
Arena: Klotsche Center (5,000)
Radio: AM 920 WOKY
Talent: Scott Warras
TV: None
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After splitting a pair of games in the first weekend of league play, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team returns home to kick off a three-game homestand Thursday against Detroit. The Panthers and Titans tip off at 7 p.m.
Looking At The Detroit Titans
The Titans enter the week at 3-9 on the season, but are off to a 1-0 start in league play after defeating Wright State, 68-47, Sunday. UDM has won two-straight after suffering through a nine-game losing streak which included four losses to major conference foes. Brigid Mulroy is third in the league with a team-best 15.0 points per game, while Yar Shayok is also third with 8.9 rebounds per game.
Series History
Milwaukee leads the all-time series with Detroit, 21-16, but the Titans won the last meeting, 59-50, to snap a seven-game losing streak in the series. The Panthers own a 13-6 record against UDM in Milwaukee.
Last Meeting - Detroit 59, Milwaukee 50
UWM spotted Detroit a 13-1 lead before hitting its first field goal in falling to the Titans, 59-50, last season at Calihan Hall. The Panthers cut a 17-point second-half deficit to two, before fading down the stretch as the Titans converted offensively to hold on for the win.
Up Next - Saturday Night Game
The Panthers host Wright State in a rare Saturday evening home game. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Last Time Out - Cleveland State 73, Milwaukee 61
Junior Lindsay Laur had a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Milwaukee fell to Cleveland State, 73-61, Monday evening at the Wolstein Center. The Panthers trailed by as many as 10 early in the second half before pulling within one thanks to a 12-3 run. Unfortunately, the Vikings' controlled the boards and fended off UWM down the stretch.
Shooting Efficiency
UWM shot 61.3 percent from the field in the second half at Youngstown State last Saturday, its highest field goal percentage in a half since shooting 64.3 percent in the first half against Northern Illinois Nov. 25. The team's 43 points also tied a season high for a half, matching the 43 the Panthers had at SIU Edwardsville in the second half Nov. 15. Milwaukee finished the game at 50 percent, its fourth 50 percent game of the season, while it had just three 50 percent games last season and three halves of 60 percent shooting or better. The Panthers are shooting 43.6 percent from the field this season, which has them second in the league and would put the team fifth in school history.
Quiet Distraction
Milwaukee is quietly putting together a strong defensive effort this season. The Panthers lead the league in field goal defense by allowing opponents to shoot just 37.4 percent from the field this season. Youngstown State shot 32.4 percent last Saturday, the fourth opponent the Panthers have held below 33 percent in a game this season. Just six times in 13 games this season has an opponent shot better than 40 percent, while UWM has let just two opponents eclipse 70 points in a game.
Balancing Act
Four Panthers have scored in double-figures four times this season, while three have done so four other times. Head coach Sandy Botham stresses the key balanced scoring plays in wins. Last season, Milwaukee went 8-0 when four players reached double-figures and has now won 15-straight games when that has happened. UWM has had four players flirting with double-figure scoring averages throughout the season. Currently, Lindsay Laur leads the team at 13.8 points per game, while junior Jenilee Klomstad is scoring 10.2 points per game and junior Ashley Imperiale is chipping in 10.1 per night.
That 70's Show
Seventy points has become a key stat for Milwaukee is recent years, as it has posted a 25-3 record over the last two-plus seasons when reaching the 70-point mark. This season, the Panthers have done so in five of their six wins.
Celebrating The 2000s
In honor of the decade that was, the Panther men's and women's basketball teams will be naming All-Decade Teams. Fans, supporters and alumni are encouraged to vote at uwmpanthers.com. The All-Decade Teams will be unveiled Feb. 18 at halftime of the men's game against Cleveland State. The women's team will be announced at halftime of its game with Loyola earlier that day at the U.S. Cellular Arena. At the Panther BlogZone, Kevin Conway (women's) and Kevin O'Connor (men's) will recap their 10 notable moments from the last decade of Panther Basketball.
Big Nights From The Bench
Sophomores Danielle Jorgenson and Alex Klawitter each had big performances in Milwaukee's win over Chicago State Dec. 13. Jorgenson topped her career high of nine points with 11, while Klawitter buried all three of her three-point attempts for a career-best nine points. Her previous high had been four points. Jorgenson then surpassed her 11-point night with 14 at Youngstown State. Sophomore Sami Tucker and junior Stephanie Schell shined at Dayton, with Tucker playing 22 minutes, with 12 points and nine rebounds. All three of those figures were season highs, while she entered the game with 11 minutes played, three rebounds and no points. Schell, on the other hand, hit the floor for the first time this season and scored eight points and dished out four assists in 19 minutes.
Some Extra Notes
The Panthers are now 8-6 in Horizon League openers under Sandy Botham, 8-8 overall and 9-8 in Division I league openers ... Milwaukee's 2-0 start this season was its first since 2001-02 and just the third in Division I (also 1993-94) ... The Panthers' 21-point halftime lead at SIU Edwardsville was their largest since Dec. 31, 2007 (vs. La Salle, 44-23) ... They also led by 20 at halftime against Northern Illinois and have held 20-plus point leads in three games this season ... Their 25-point margin of victory in the SIUE game was their largest since a 77-51 win at Central Connecticut State Dec. 1, 2007 ... South Alabama's one made free throw and two attempted Nov. 28 were the fewest by a Milwaukee opponent since SMU did not attempt any, Nov. 26, 2006 ... UWM has hit a three-pointer in 222-straight games ... Milwaukee's 11 second-half points vs. Illinois State tied a school record for fewest in a half ... The 89 total points in that game are the second-fewest in a game in the Panthers' team history.
Double The Fun
Lindsay Laur has four double-doubles on the year. Her first double-double came in the season-opener and was a rare feat for a Panther. It was only the fifth double-double by a UWM player in a season-opener in the program's 20 years as a Division I program. As a team, the Panthers have six double-doubles this season as Jenilee Klomstad (12 pts, 10 reb vs. Wisconsin) and Ashley Imperiale (16 pts, 10 reb vs. Chicago State) have each collected their first career double-doubles.
Preseason Experience
The Panthers went 1-1 in the exhibition season, including a buzzer-beater loss to UW-Parkside Nov. 1. Lindsay Laur led the team over the two games, averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Ashley Imperiale averaged a team-best 13.0 points and Jenilee Klomstad was close behind at 12.5 ppg. Both Imperiale and Klomstad added 6.0 rebounds per game.
Preseason Prognosticators
Milwaukee was picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League standings this season, according to the league's preseason poll. The Panthers garnered a first-place vote and 155 total points in the poll, which is voted on by league head coaches, sports information directors and media. Defending league champion Green Bay topped the poll with 266 points and 19 first-place votes. UWM, which placed seventh in the league standings a year ago, and GB faced off in the 2009 league championship game.
Back In Black & Gold
UWM returns eight letterwinners from last season, including five upperclassmen. While last season featured a school-record five-member senior class, the 2009-10 Panthers will boast just one senior in Jodie McClain. Also back in uniform will be juniors Lindsay Laur, Ashley Imperiale, Jenilee Klomstad and Stephanie Schell. Laur was a strong candidate for Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year last season and was the team's second-leading scorer (9.6 ppg) and rebounder (6.0). Imperiale came on strong and was a league all-newcomer and all-tournament team selection.
On The Docket In 2009-10
The Panthers are taking on eight total post-season teams from last season during the 2009-10 season, including NCAA Division I Tournament teams in Green Bay and Evansville. It also played on UW-Stevens Point in an exhibition game. The Pointers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the DIII tournament. Milwaukee plays host to all three of its in-state rivalry games, inlcuding non-league tilts with Wisconsin and Marquette, both of which advanced multiple rounds in the WNIT. Other WNIT Teams on the docket are Dayton, Illinois State and Butler. The Panthers also took a trip to Seattle, Wash., where they played 20-game winners from last season in South Alabama (21-11) and Seattle University (20-9) at SeattleU's Thanksgiving Tournament.
League Success
The Panthers are looking to continue a strong tradition of success in the Horizon League in 2009-10. Milwaukee has finished second-or-better in the league standings in eight of the last 10 seasons and are 106-42 in league games since 1999-2000. UWM has won league titles in 2001 and 2006.
Home Sweet Home
The Klotsche Center remains a difficult place for visiting teams to succeed. In 13 years under Sandy Botham, the Panthers are 115-59 at home. The Panthers went just 7-7 at home last season, but recently posted a school-record 13-3 home campaign in 2005-06. In league play, those numbers are even better as Milwaukee boasts a 78-24 home record. That number has gotten a boost lately, as the Panthers have won 63 of their last 80 home league games over the last nine seasons. UWM has also posted three perfect home league years, going 8-0 in 2003-04 and 7-0 in both 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
It's Not How You Start, But How You Finish
Milwaukee may have had a down year in league play, going 7-11 and earning the seventh seed in the league tournament, but that didn't stop the team from advancing to the league title game for the third time in team history. The Panthers became the first team to advance to the title game after playing in the league's first round since the round was added in 2001. To get there, they had to win three games in five days in three cities. That week, Milwaukee beat No. 10 Youngstown State Monday at home. It then knocked off No. 2 Butler in Indianapolis Wednesday, before coming back Friday and eliminating No. 3 Cleveland State in Green Bay.
Panthers On The Air
For the third-straight season, every Panther game will be carried live on AM920 WOKY. The station is also be the home of the Sandy Botham Radio Show, while both the show and every game will be available live at uwmpanthers.com. Scott Warras returns for his fourth season as the voice of UWM women's basketball and the host of the Sandy Botham Radio show. He will also host the Sandy Botham television show, which will air of Time Warner Sports 32.
Be Sure To Watch
UWM will continue to get television coverage in the Milwaukee area, with four games being carried live on Time Warner Sports 32 and then be replayed on the station afterwards. The Panthers will also play at Green Bay Feb. 13 on ESPNU. Also, every regular season home game will be available to watch online through the Horizon League Network (www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv).
