The Milwaukee Panthers go one-and-done in the postseason after a 69-67 loss to Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League tournament’s play-in game at the Klotsche Center Monday.
The Panthers swept the regular season series but couldn’t beat the No. 11 seeded Titans when elimination was on the line. Both teams entered the match with a 4-16 Horizon League record on the 2025-26 campaign.
Milwaukee’s season ended with eight straight losses, its last win came all the way back in January vs. Wright State.
The Tierney Madigan Show
Freshman wing Tierney Madigan led all-scorers with 22 points. She didn’t get any burn until the 2nd quarter, but once in the game her impact was immediate.
Madigan’s 7-point flurry in the 2nd quarter kept Milwaukee within striking distance of Detroit Mercy, who held the advantage for much of the first half. The Titans’ six point lead at halftime swung to a two-point Panthers’ upper hand after a productive 24-point third quarter.
Madigan had a lot to do with Milwaukee’s success in the third, causing problems for UDM’s defense, spamming back cuts and attacking mismatches in the post relentlessly in the period.
The lefty slasher scored 15 of the Panthers’ 17 points from the 5:01 mark in the 3rd quarter to 7:49 in the final frame, only separated by a Jorey Buwalda layup.
The Panthers offense tightened up to end the game, especially after the last media timeout with 4:52 to play.
Missed free throws by UDM gave Milwaukee a chance to tie or take the lead down two with 13 seconds left. Senior Grace Lomen took the shot as four seconds remained at the top of the key, but came up short, sealing the result.
Buwalda tailed Madigan’s performance with 19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Head coach Kyle Rechlicz was unavailable to comment postgame.
Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy kept a tight rotation, only utilizing two players off their bench.
Jasmine Edwards was the Titan’s player of the game, scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds while playing less than two minutes short of the full game.
Guards Makayla Jackson (17 pts) and Aaliyah McQueen (15 pts) also added double figures for Detroit Mercy.
The Titans head up to No. 1 seeded Green Bay to officially start the first round of the Horizon League Tournament Wednesday.