It was a game the rebuilding Panthers needed to win with seven games remaining.
A hot start and poised fourth quarter was enough to push Milwaukee over Wright State 75-70 in their homecoming game on Saturday at the Klotsche Center.
The Panthers came into the contest in ninth place of the Horizon League standings, with the Raiders right below them in 10th.
“They’re a way better team than their record, we talked before the game and said, ‘we really think that both of our teams can make a run here at some of the bigger teams [in the Horizon League],'” said head coach Kyle Rechlicz.
Milwaukee’s win preserved its spot in ninth, still only sitting ahead of Wright State and Detroit Mercy.
The Panthers are now 8-16 overall and 4-9 in the Horizon League, while the Raiders dropped to 6-17 overall and 2-10 in the conference.
Better Attacking the Zone
Before Wright State, Milwaukee lost to Cleveland State 66-46, largely thanks to their inability to shake the Vikings’ 2-3 zone.
The Panthers were faced with the same look against the Raiders, this time having much more success.
“Our pace within the offense was better today,” said Rechlicz. “At Cleveland State, I thought we held the ball too long, which allowed the zone to shift, today we were really moving the ball from one side of the court, making that zone work.”
Milwaukee broke the zone with better entry passes near the free-throw line and dribble penetration, most notably from redshirt freshman Kendall Barnes.
“They know that we’re a bunch of shooters out there; it’s really nice that Kendall can get in and dish passes,” said freshman guard Madison Fitzgibbon. “It also makes the zone have to pack in a little bit for the inside shots.”
Barnes finished with eight points and one assist while defending Breezie Williams on the other end.
Williams is one of the shiftiest guards in the Horizon League. She finished with nine points and eight assists, which could’ve easily been around 15 assists if the Raiders had a better shooting night.
“She’s very good at seeing the weak side of the floor, so obviously, next time we play them we’ve got to do a much better job at getting out to those weak side shooters,” said Rechlicz.
Good 1st Quarter
First quarters were the bane of Milwaukee’s existence at the start of the year. Game after game, they found themselves down big after the opening frame, playing catch-up.
As the season has progressed, the Panthers have started games better, including Saturday.
Grace Lomen (6 points) and Jorey Buwalda (8 points) got off to a hot start in the opening frame, putting the Panthers up 20-12 going into the second quarter.
“It’s huge when we hit our shots right away, Grace Lomen has been really great for us these past couple of games, and when she gets hot right away in the first quarter, it just gets everyone else going,” said Fitzgibbon.
3-Point Production
Milwaukee and Wright State both made 12 3-pt field goals on the day. The Panthers shot a scorching 12-23 while the Raiders shot a more modest 12-32 from behind the arc.
Wright State started cold from downtown despite getting quality looks. They finally began to cash in during the second quarter, shooting 4-9 from deep in the period.
Their shooting helped propel them to a 22-point second quarter, trimming the Panthers’ lead to one headed into the half, 35-34.
Fitzgibbon continued the Panther three-point barrage in the second half. 12 of her 14 points came off four makes from deep. Her other two points came from two big free throws at the end of the game to help close it out for Milwaukee.
“I told her, if you don’t start shooting, you’re going to start sitting,” said Rechlicz on Fitzgibbon. “I think that’s what lit a fire under her in the second half, she only took one shot in the first half, and so then for her to come in and hit some big threes against that zone late, you know, you have to respect some of the players that we have out there.”
Fitzgibbon has the highest 3-pt field goal percentage of any Panther this season, shooting 46%.
39 of the 44 field goals Fitzgibbon has made this year have been threes.
Big Buwalda 3rd Quarter
Buwalda had her best quarter in the third, chipping in seven of her game-high 17 total points in the period.
“I think Jorey is one of the best post players in the Horizon League, she can shoot the three, she can get down and she also just rebounds very well,” said Fitzgibbon. “
Buwalda also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in the contest.
The Return of Izzy Pugh
Izzy Pugh, a 6-foot-2 inch forward, added four points and five rebounds for the Panthers. Pugh’s return is a welcome one for the Panthers after she was injured for a stretch in the middle of the season.
“She’s got really good athleticism for her size, which is obviously very important to us to have an athletic four or five that can play that position,” said Rechlicz. “Because we can do some different things defensively with her.”
Saturday was Pugh’s third game back from injury after missing nine contests.
Next Up
The Panthers have a two game road trip next, going to Youngstown State on the 5th and Robert Morris on the 7th.
Milwaukee lost both of their previous games against their conference foes at home, and look to get some revenge.
“I feel like we’re a completely different team than the first time,” said Rechlicz. “Our defense is going to to be most important, you know, because you just never know if the ball is going to go in the basket or not on the road.”