The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee womens basketball team broke the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames 11-game winning streak Thursday night, when they came back from an 18-point first-half deficit and tied a school record with 59 points in the second half. The Panthers won, 89-83.

The Panthers (13-15 overall, 9-6 Horizon League) had six players in double figures, two of them scoring more than 10 in the first half. Leading them was Traci Edwards with 22 points and six rebounds, followed by Aubrey Hampton with 15.

Hampton went 4-for-4 behind the arch and is on pace to set a school record for three-point shooting percentage, she currently sits at .452 and the school record is at .441. Aubri Rote added 14 to the Panthers victory. Meredith Onson contributed 13, Jody Crumble added 11 and Turquoise McCain scored 10 in the all-around team effort.

The Flames (18-10, 11-4 Horizon) had two players who reached more than 20 points in the effort. UIC shot 60 percent in the first half but dropped to 33 percent in the second for a game total of 44.9 percent, leading to the Panther victory.

UWM was down by 13 at the half, but strong defense and quality shooting led them to the win. The Panthers shot 8-of-13 behind the arch in the second half and finished with 11 three-point baskets, a season high. UWM won the rebounding battle and lead in free throw percentage, 82.8 percent to the Flames 68.4.

When you have an inside presence like Traci (Edwards), you need to be able to hit those perimeter shots and we did that today, especially in the second half, Panther head coach Sandy Botham said. You cant have a successful inside-outside game when you dont make shots. They were doubling Traci and [in the second half] we took advantage of the open looks that gave us.

Botham earned her 200th victory as a head coach, 183rd as a Panther, in the victory. Botham is now 20-5 against UIC since becoming head coach and the Panthers are 22-10 against the Flames since moving to Division I play.

Its great to get [my 200th win], especially like this, Botham said. What a memorable way to get No. 200, coming back from 18 points down. I appreciate the players efforts tonight in making this one of the most memorable games of my career.

The Panthers will play in the Horizon League Tournament starting March 7. Their opponent is yet to be determined.

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