MILWAUKEE - After a month of practice, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team will take the floor for its first and only exhibition contest in preparation for the 2015-16 season Friday evening when it hosts Tiffin University at the Klotsche Center. Tip off time is set for 7 p.m.

Scouting Tiffin
The Lady Dragons, an NCAA Division II program from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, finished the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 7-21 and a 6-16 mark in GLIAC play. They welcome new head coach Jason Mishler, who comes to Tiffin following four seasons at Malone University. The team was picked to finish sixth in the GLIAC South Division preseason poll.
 
Looking Ahead
Milwaukee officially opens the 2015-16 season with a home game Monday. The season opener sees the Panthers welcome UMKC to the Klotshce Center, set for a 7 p.m. start.
 
With the season here, the 2015-16 Milwaukee Women's Basketball Media Guide is now available. Click HERE for the link to the PDF document.
 
Women's Basketball 2015-16 Season Preview
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball head coach Kyle Rechlicz heads into her fourth year at the helm with plenty of optimism.
 
A season ago, her team claimed Milwaukee's first postseason victory in five years and featured a first-team all-league selection in Ashley Green for the first time since 2010-11.
 
"I think the success we had last year came from the great leadership that we had in Ashley Green, Macie Dorow and Hannah Kaul," Rechlicz said. "I think they really set the tone for what is coming in the future. Winning that postseason game will really help propel us at the start of this season."
 
One thing she will not have back, however, is Green. She graduated following a remarkable career that saw her finish fourth all-time on the career scoring list at 1,653 points after averaging a team-high 19.3 points per game a year ago to go along with a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game.
 
"She was a scorer; she was a leader," Rechlicz said. "You can't replace Ashley with one person, so we have recruited an army to try and help. All of our freshman class is extremely capable and ready to step up along with our upperclassmen that have worked on their game in the preseason to put themselves in position to get more playing time and be more productive on the court."
 
The team also had a member of the league's all-freshman squad in 2014-15 for the first time in four seasons. Jenny Lindner burst on the scene in fine fashion, starting 28 of 30 games in averaging 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
Lindner and classmate Steph Kostowicz combined to earn Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors four times. Kostowicz overcame a midseason injury and finished strong, scoring in double figures in each of the final four games – setting career highs twice. She ended up making eight starts in 21 games overall, averaging 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest in addition to leading the team in blocks.
 
"I think it's really great when you see your freshmen step up in moments," Rechlicz said. "Jenny had a fantastic freshman season. She put in a lot of hard work and it's nice for her to see that hard work pay off. It also gives us confidence coming into this year, knowing that we have somebody with experience that we can rely on and to step up in big situations. I also feel that if Steph Kostowicz had been healthy all season, we could have gotten two on the All-Freshman Team. I think she has been outstanding and that is motivating her for this season."
 
Losing three seniors that were relied on heavily as well as another starter, the team will be able to know that Lindner and Kostowicz will be ready to step up and fill in the scoring and leadership roles that will need a voice.
 
"I think they have seen what it takes to win and have both been through some hardships in their freshman years that they don't want that to occur again," Rechlicz said. "They are in a position to lead as sophomores. To have those valuable minutes as a freshman really put them in a position to take charge and be ready to take the reins."
 
Speaking of experience, the Panthers also welcome a pair of juniors who will be ready to step onto the court and contribute immediately. Alexis Lindstrom is set to go after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. She spent two seasons at Northern Illinois University and will be a veteran guard with the ability to make shots that UWM will need. In addition to Lindstrom, newcomer Sierra Ford-Washington - a First-Team NJCAA Division II All-American after averaging 22.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last year – is set to contribute from day one.
 
"It's been fun watching them step up," Rechlicz said. "Alexis has been here a year and really understands the system we have in place which I think has given her a huge advantage. Sierra is still learning it, but we have been watching her grow every day in that position and she will see a lot of time this season. She brings us a calmness and I think that comes with the experience of playing a lot of games in her career. Adding those two really gives us four players we can lean on."
 
Returning guards that will see time include senior Sydney Howard and sophomore Kelsey Cunningham. Howard had a breakthrough junior campaign last year, setting career highs across the board in averaging 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. She was second on the team in assists and her 1.45 assist-to-turnover mark finished fifth-best in program history for a single-season. Cunningham played in all 30 games, contributing 59 points and 23 steals.
 
"Everyone is really working hard to put themselves in position to play right now," Rechlicz said. "Syd puts herself in position to be on the court and is in the best shape she has ever been in. She plays very steady and does not make mistakes. And that is something we will really value with all of the newcomers that we have, is that consistency that she brings to the table. And Kelsey, with her athleticism, her ability to get to the rim, will definitely get her playing time. I think she has been stepping up more vocally as a sophomore, which is a welcomed change."
 
In the post, a veteran will have a few new players to take under her wing. Junior Christina Wakeman appeared in 29 games a year ago, earning a spot in the starting lineup six times. She chipped in 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game and was one of the team's top shooters from the field.
 
"Christina has really improved every year and her game in the paint has been very solid," Rechlicz said. "She is consistently finishing around the basket and her rebounding has really improved. And that is what we need around the basket. We have a lot of perimeter players that are good at attacking the rim. We need Christina's presence to be a benefit for us this season."
 
She will be joined by freshmen Emma Roenneburg and Emma Dau. Roenneburg was a four time South-Central Conference Player of the Year and three time all-state honoree. Dau was also all-state following a senior campaign where she netted close to 17 points a night.
 
"Emma Roenneburg will show everyone a lot throughout this season and will take command as a freshman," Rechlicz said. "Emma Dau brings a joy to the court every day. She always has a smile on her face and is very coachable. We have seen her go from this eager freshman that wants to learn everything she can to someone that is creating moves and scoring."
 
Four freshman guards fill out the remainder of the roster in Akaylah Hayes, Alba Izquierdo, Alyssa Fischer and Taylor Baker.
 
"Akaylah came in as a forward and we are transitioning her out to the wing," Rechlicz said. "But she becomes one of our best rebounders. Alba's speed with the basketball will get her on the court and her ability to handle the ball is very good as well. Having her at the point will be valuable for us."
 
Each brings different strengths to the court and is anxious to put on a Milwaukee uniform for the first time.
 
"Taylor came in as a walk-on and has already earned a scholarship and that is an incredible feat," Rechlicz said. "She did that through her heart and hustle and puts herself in position by being all over the court all the time. Alyssa has been one of our most consistent shooters. We need people who can knock down shots and she has been doing that for us."
 
The UWM bench will see an increased role this season and Rechlicz makes no secret of that. Her and her staff have recruited a talented group of newcomers and they are ready to showcase their skills to the fans and the other teams in the league.
 
"It will be interesting to see how all of the pieces of this puzzle will come together because we have a lot of outstanding individual pieces and we need to figure out how to put them together in a winning combination," Rechlicz said. "The one thing that is awesome about this team is that they truly want to win. It's not about individual performances or playing time, it's all about who is getting it done so we can get the 'W' and that's really been huge for us moving into the season. We have more talent than we have ever had before. It's a mystery at this point who will be on the court, but I think that is a good thing. We have a lot of people fighting for something and a good potential for us to be special this year."
 
That potential will be on display against another tough field, as the Horizon League saw four of its teams earn postseason bids a year ago.
 
"I think that our conference is getting extremely competitive and that makes it fun," Rechlicz said. "You know you are going to war every night when you step on the court for a conference game. There is no team you can overlook and I think that is the joy of coaching and being in a competitive league. I am hoping that we can put ourselves in that mix for winning a conference championship this year."