The Green Bay Phoenix rode a second-half surge to defeat the Panthers 86-53 on Thursday at the Klotsche Center.
The Panthers fell to 3-9 on the season and 0-3 in conference play while the Phoenix improved to 7-4 on the season and 2-1 in the Horizon League.
Kacee Baumhower led the Panthers with 14 points, 12 came in the first quarter. Baumhower was the only Milwaukee player to reach double digits. Forward Anna Lutz also chipped in eight points.
Head coach Kyle Rechlicz felt Green Bay ramped up their defense against Baumhower after the first quarter.
“We just wilted under that,” said Rechlicz. “We got a little bit stagnant within our offense.”
Maddy Schreiber scored an efficient 20 points for the Phoenix, shooting 8-11 from the field. Jasmine Kondrakiewicz (16) and Natalie McNeal (11) also put up double figures for Green Bay.
At halftime, only six points separated the Panthers and Phoenix. By the end of the game, Green Bay’s advantage was 33 points.
“We came out extremely flat in the second [half],” said Rechlicz.
Turnover Issues
A big factor in the match was the turnover discrepancy. Milwaukee finished with 22 to Green Bay’s seven. The Phoenix scored 32 points off the Panther miscues.
“They just sped us up,” said guard Jada Williams. “We have to focus on us and what we know we can do and be strong with the ball.”
The Phoenix took 16 more shots than the Panthers, a big part because of the turnover difference.
“We kept trying things that they had been taking away again and again,” said Rechlicz. “That’s where we have learn how to adjust throughout a game.”
The Phoenix shot 52.3% from the field and 50% from three compared to the Panthers’ 42.9% and 29.4%. The Phoenix dished out 25 assists to the Panthers’ 10.
“Our defense just needs to pick up,” said Williams.
Despite the overall rough performance, some of the younger Panthers showed resilience, according to Rechlicz.
Lack of Home Games
This was Milwaukee’s only home game in the month of December. Their next home game is on January 2 against Wright State.
After Milwaukee’s trip to the Puerto Rico Clasico, where they beat American and lost to Air Force, they immediately went into Horizon League action. The Panthers fell to Youngstown State 50-66 and Robert Morris 55-56.
“It is tough on our team,” said Rechlicz. “You’ve got to be warriors, you’ve got to battle through it.”
Despite the lack of recent success, Rechlicz still sees the team in a good place mentally.
Next up for the Panthers is a matchup across town at Big East member Marquette. That game will commence on December 15 and is scheduled to tip off at 2:00 p.m.