Inspired by senior Nichole Drummond’s performance in which she recorded her 1,000th career point, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s basketball team beat UW-Green Bay on the road Saturday for the first time since 1998.

“We haven't had a lot of success here,” said coach Sandy Botham. “I'm so proud and happy for the seniors to get this victory. I thought Molly (O’Brien) and Nichole played superb basketball. I don't think we could have asked for anymore from them.”

With Drummond’s performance of 16 points and six assists, she became the 14th member of the 1,000-point club. She exceeded the 1,000 mark with 8:22 left in the first half.

“It was good, especially since we beat Green Bay, too,” Drummond said. “I really wasn't concerned with it during the game, but people came up to me after the game, congratulating me about it. It felt good.”

The game came right down to the wire with Green Bay getting a good look at the potential tying field goal. With 22 seconds remaining and the Panthers leading 69-65, sophomore Meredith Onson was fouled and sent to the line. She was given a one-and-one opportunity but she missed the first one.

Green Bay took the rebound off the Onson miss and pushed the ball up to Amanda Popp for a three pointer to bring them within two. With the score 69-67 and only 6.1 on the clock, UWM attempted to inbound the ball, but was called for a five-second violation.

Both teams used a timeout and Nicole Soulis was given the chance to tie the game with a seven-foot jumper, but it did not fall. The shot was then rebounded by Popp who immediately called timeout with 0.3 remaining.

After Green Bay discussed what would have to be an immediate catch and shoot, they attempted the inbound pass. UWM knocked it away and the buzzer sounded.

“We knew it was going to be a possession game. We knew we had to do a better job of protecting the basketball,” Botham said. “We are two teams in the league that shoot the ball well and if we give them more shots at it, that could be our demise. That one more possession down the stretch was big. I'm proud of our team's effort.”

With the win, UWM improves to 12-8 and 7-2 in the Horizon League. UWM returns home to take on Loyola on Thursday, Feb. 9, in a doubleheader with the men at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

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