Game #4
Northern Illinois @ Milwaukee
Date: Nov. 25, 2009
Time: 7 p.m. Central
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
Arena: Klotsche Center (5,000)
Radio: AM 920 WOKY
Talent: Scott Warras
TV: None
uwmpanthers.com: Gametracker, Live Blog, HLN Webcast
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MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Nov. 24, 2009) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team hosts Northern Illinois Wednesday at the Klotsche Center. The game will be the Panthers' last home contest before hitting the road for four games in three states. UWM and NIU tip off at 7 p.m.
Scouting The Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois enters Wednesday's contest with a 3-1 record and having won its last two games. Last week, the Huskies opened with a loss to Western Illinois, but have rebounded with wins against IUPUI and Southern Illinois. Three players are scoring in double-figures for NIU on a nightly basis, including a pair of players averaging a double-double. Mauvolyene Adams leads the team with 17.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, while Ebony Ellis is checking in at 15.3 points and 12.0 rebounds for fifth-year head coach Carol Owens.
Series History
The Huskies lead the all-time series with Milwaukee, 10-7, but it was the Panthers coming out of the last meeting in 2008 victorious. After losing nine of the first 10 meetings in the series, UWM has topped Northern Illinois in six of the last seven games.
Last Meeting - Milwaukee 71, N. Illinois 61
Traci Edwards scored a game-high 21 points and junior Jodie McClain added 15 to lead Milwaukee to a 71-61 win over Northern Illinois. The Panthers won their third-straight game and head coach Sandy Botham picked up her 200th career win as UWM head coach. Milwaukee held a slim 47-45 lead before breaking the game open courtesy of a 17-6 run.
Up Next - Heading To The Emerald City
The Panthers hit the road for four-straight contests away from the Klotsche Center. The trip kicks off this weekend at the SeattleU Thanksgiving Tournament. UWM takes on South Alabama Saturday and the host Redhawks Sunday.
Last Time Out - Wisconsin 64, Milwaukee 55
Milwaukee overcame a 14-point first half deficit to lead late, but could not overcome 20 turnovers in falling to Wisconsin, 64-55, last Thursday at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers led 48-47 with 8:30 to play, but did not hit a field goal until the 33-second mark during a 14-2 Badger run late in regulation. Lindsay Laur had a game-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals to lead UWM. Jenilee Klomstad added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while also blocking three shots.
Figuring The Keys To Success
Four Panthers scored in double-figures in each of the first two games of the season. 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 have won 13-straight games when that has happened. UWM was also 10-1 when scoring at least 70 points and 3-0 when shooting better than 50 percent last season. Four players are averaging double-figures in scoring so far this season with a fifth checking in at 9.7 ppg.
Getting It Done On The Road
Milwaukee got off to its first 2-0 start since 2001-02 and for just the third time in its Division I history (also 1993-94). The last time the Panthers started 2-0 with both wins away from home was 1981-82. That year both games were at a neutral site. This was the first time in school history the team had started 2-0 and both wins were true road games.
Some Extra Notes
The last time UWM had two-straight games with four-or-more players scoring in double-figures was Dec. 20-28, 2007 ... The Panthers' 18-point halftime lead at SIU Edwardsville was their largest since Dec. 31, 2007 (vs. La Salle, 44-23) ... Their 25-point margin of victory in the SIUE game was their largest since a 77-61 win at Central Connecticut State Dec. 1, 2007 ... Jenilee Klomstad's double-double against Wisconsin last Thursday was the first of her career and her first 10-rebound game ... Klomstad is the only Panther to score in double-figures in every game this season.
Double The Fun
Lindsay Laur's double-double in the season-opener was the sixth of her career, but was also 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. The last season-opening double-double was Traci Edwards (30 points, 14 rebounds) in 2007. Kimberly Becker in 2003 (14/10), Erica Young in 1993 (15/17) and Nikki Flack in 1992 (14/11) are the other Panthers to accomplish the feat.
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.
But What That Means...
Despite losing five seniors, including three starters, the Panthers are not without strong experience. In fact, the eight returners accounted for 43 percent of the team's scoring last season and 39 percent of its rebounding. The group also accounted for 66 starts and boasts 94 career starts.
Welcome To Milwaukee
Five newcomers will pepper Milwaukee's roster in 2009-10, including two junior college transfers. Anne Breland was a two-time NJCAA Division III All-American and led Rochester Technical and Community College to the DIII title last season. Ciera McGaughy comes from Des Moines Area Community College after being one of the top point prep guards in the state of Michigan. Milwaukee also added a pair of Michigan prep stars in Sammy Theut and Sami Tucker. Theut was the Class D State Player of the Year, while Tucker was named to the Class A All-State First Team.
On The Docket In 2009-10
The Panthers take 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 takes 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 take a trip to Seattle, Wash., where they will take on 20-game winners in South Alabama (21-11) and Seattle University (20-9) at SeattleU's 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 105-41 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 113-57 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).
