Milwaukee women’s basketball started their season with a 59-55 loss to the Loyola Chicago Raiders at the Klotsche Center on Monday in a game that was simply put… not pretty.
There were 36 turnovers and 47 free throws collectively. The Raiders increased their defensive pressure after the first quarter, which ended up being the difference in the game.
The Panthers were able to stay in striking distance until the end, largely thanks to many trips to the free-throw line.
The Panthers had two opportunities to tie the game in the last minute when they were down 58-55, but couldn’t cash in from deep.
Milwaukee ran a set play for sharpshooter Rita Gomes with 24 seconds left. Her three-point attempt was blocked and rebounded by the Raiders.
After two missed Loyola Chicago free throws, the Panthers had another opportunity to tie the game.
The ball ended up in Jorey Buwalda’s hands, who tried a step back three with 12 seconds left. It missed, which sealed the loss.
Milwaukee had an unusual last-place finish in the Horizon League last season after they went 8-24 overall and 5-15 in the conference.
Loyola Chicago didn’t have the best year either in 2024-25, ending with a 13-17 record.
Free Throws Kept Panthers Close
Quality looks were few and far between for the Panthers, but they did draw a lot of fouls.
Milwaukee made 20 of 29 free-throw attempts. 16 of their makes came in the second half.
“I thought we really attacked the pressure very well,” said head coach Kyle Rechlicz. “The goal was to get downhill and break some of the traps.”
Jorey Buwalda Stepping up on Offense
Buwalda was the focal point for the Panthers’ offense. She started the game on fire, scoring the first 10 points for Milwaukee.
The leading returning scorer from last year ended with 18 points and 14 rebounds in 34 minutes.
“It feels really good that our offense is able to flow through me,” said Buwalda. “I’m able to make reads, whether I want to shoot it, kick it, go set screens [that] kind of thing.”
Her 18 points were the most by any player on the night. Buwalda is slated to be one of the most productive players for the Panthers this season.
Guard Inconsistencies
Freshman Madison Fitzgibbon got the starting point guard nod. Her inexperience showed in the first half, where she committed four turnovers.
“She was incredibly hesitant tonight, I kind of had to pull her out a little bit because she wasn’t shooting and then was turning it over, said Rechlicz. “That’s a growing freshman in a point guard role.”
The guard from Mequon ended with one point and six turnovers in almost 17 minutes of action.
Eastern Washington transfer Valerie Cassidy-De Falco found pockets of success but was largely inconsistent at the point guard position. She played 19 minutes off the bench.
She finished with seven points, five turnovers and a team high +11 plus/minus.
The Panthers coughed up the ball 24 times compared to the Raiders’ 12.
At the end of the game, redshirt freshman Kendall Barnes got her first minutes as a Panther due to her defensive prowess and the lack of consistency at the guard position.
Along with Barnes, five other Panthers got their first taste of D-I college basketball action.
Lack of Spacing
The Panthers aimed to be a threat from outside coming into the year.
Milwaukee only cashed in on three shots from outside the arc, well below their goal of 10 per game.
“It was a little bit of a lack of ball movement,” said Rechlicz. “We weren’t seeing the weak side of the floor well.”
What’s Next
The Panthers head to Northern Illinois on Nov. 7 to face the Huskies, who will join the Horizon League in the 2026-27 season.
After that, they go to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 10.
Their next home game is on Nov. 13 against Western Michigan.