MILWAUKEE - Junior Jordyn Swan topped five players in double-figures with 20 points and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team got the 2014-15 campaign started on the right foot with an 87-48 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University in an exhibition contest at the Klotsche Center.
 
"It's just nice to finally play against somebody else," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "I think we are pushing the ball better and I think that we are getting up and down the floor. We had a lot of people step up in significant ways and a lot of people that haven't been seen in Panther jerseys. I think our youngsters are coming along strong and we just have to continue to get them minutes as much as we can."
 
The Panthers built a 10-point advantage over the Mustangs by the second media timeout and never trailed on the day, leading by as many as 43 in the first contest of the season at the Klotsche Center.
 
"I am proud of where we are at," Rechlicz said. "I know we still have a long way to go before our first game next Sunday, but I am excited to see the journey that we have come on so far and where we are at as of right now."
 
Swan netted 17 of her game-high 20 in the first half, finishing 8-of-10 from the floor. Senior Ashley Green had 18 points and freshman Steph Kostowicz added 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
"Jordyn really came to play today," Rechlicz said. "To have a junior step in like Jordyn did and compete the way that she did, that is the biggest thing that we have been talking to her about. She got boards, she made hustle plays and that is what we will expect from her the entire season."
 
Senior Macie Dorow finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while freshman Jenny Lindner chipped in 11 points off the bench to give Milwaukee five players in double-figures.
 
Lauren Hedlund paced SMSU with 16 points.
 
The defense was clicking as well, with the Panthers forcing 32 turnovers while holding their opponents under 30 percent from the floor on the day.
 
Back-and-forth out of the gates, UWM used eight straight points to build a small 7-4 edge into a 15-4 advantage on a Green layup at the 14:21 mark.
 
The team took a 47-29 lead into the locker room and really turned up the intensity on both sides to open the second half.
 
The Mustangs scored the first basket after intermission prior to a dominant 15-0 run by the Panthers that made it 62-31 and essentially put the game away.
 
The Milwaukee newcomers made their first impression a good one. Freshman Kelsey Cunningham had seven points and a team-high six steals, junior Jaleesa Armstrong had four assists in nine minutes of action and freshman Cree Hammond added four points, two steals and a pair of blocks in 16 minutes on the court.
 
Offensively, Milwaukee finished at 45.2 percent (33-73) from the floor on the day.
 
The regular-season is up next, with the Panthers heading to North Dakota for a two-game road trip. The opener is set for November 16, with a 2 p.m. tip-off at North Dakota State.