UW-Milwaukee Outlasts Butler, 68-55

March 1, 2003

Final Stats

MILWAUKEE, WIS. - The Butler women's basketball team chipped away at a 22-point second half deficit, but ran out of time at the end, falling to UW-Milwaukee 68-55 Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center. The game concludes the Bulldogs' regular season, as Butler drops to 5-22 overall and 3-13 in Horizon League action. The Panthers improve to 15-12 overall and 11-5 in the league.

Teri Huff's layup at 10:30 capped off an 11-0 UW-Milwaukee run and put the Panthers ahead 21-9. The Panthers' lead would grow to as much as 17, behind five straight points from Anne Witte, but Butler would end the half on a 7-0 run to go into halftime down 33-23.

The Panthers burst out to a 51-29 lead in the early going of the second half. UW-Milwaukee extended its lead to 56-34 with 12:12 remaining, but Butler would pull back to within 59-48 with 3:13 left to play. After a pair of free throws from Maria Viall, Lisa Pryor hit a shot from the top of the key to cut Butler's gap to 61-51. However, that was as close as the Bulldogs would come, as Butler ended the regular season on a four-game losing skid.

Viall led all players with 28 points and 17 rebounds and Jessica Wilhite added 22 points, including a five-of-ten performance from long range. The Panthers outrebounded Butler 47-36 on the game and shot 44 percent from the field, but were plagued by 28 turnovers, the most for a Butler opponent this season.

Butler shot poorly from the field, connecting on just 30.2 percent (19-63) of its shots, including a 3-of-21 (.143) performace from long range.

Lisa Pryor was the lone Butler player to score in double-figures, finishing with 14 points.

The Bulldogs will take on Youngstown State in the playin game of the Horizon League Championships on Wednesday (Mar. 5) at UW-Green Bay's Phoenix Sports Center.