Women's Basketball January 22, 2016

Milwaukee Looks To Keep It Rolling At Northern Kentucky

Panthers first-ever matchup against conference newcomer NKU

MILWAUKEE - After back-to-back 82-60 wins in conference play and four-straight victories, the Milwaukee women's basketball team will look to keep it going Saturday with a trip to conference newcomer Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m. Central from the BB&T Arena. Saturday's game will pit a pair of 10-7 teams against each other, while Milwaukee (4-2) sits a few spots ahead of NKU (2-4) in the league standings.

LOOKING AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY
This marks the first season Northern Kentucky is competing the Horizon League. The conference newcomer started the season with an 8-3 record in early action and is off to a 2-4 start to league play. But, all of NKU's conference games have been extremely close, with its average margin of victory just three and average margin of defeat just under four. Thursday's eight-point loss to Green Bay was the largest decision yet for the Norse in league play.

One-third of NKU's shots this season have come from behind the arc, with plenty of success. The team averages 8.2 threes per game and is shooting a league-high .371 from downtown. Christine Roush leads the three-point attack for the Norse, connecting on 44 of her 109 deep balls this season.

Northern Kentucky also is very successful from the free throw line. Roush leads the league in shooting from the charity stripe at .911 (41-45), while NKU has three of the top-six in that category in the league. As a team, the Norse have attempted 323 shots from the free throw line this season, second most in the league, and have converted a league-best .780 percent of those.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will be the first ever between Milwaukee and Northern Kentucky.

UP NEXT
UWM returns home for a pair of conference games next week, starting Thursday when Detroit comes to the Klotsche Center at 7 p.m.

LAST GAME
The Milwaukee women's basketball team broke open a close game early en route to an emphatic 82-60 road win over league-leading Wright State Thursday from the Nutter Center.

UWM (10-7, 4-2 Horizon) dominated the Raiders (15-4, 5-1 Horizon) in handing them their first league loss of the year.

Milwaukee's 82 points is the second most allowed by Wright State this season and it is just the second home loss for WSU this year.

In fact, the Raiders came into the game averaging 80.4 points per game – the 11th highest total in the nation. Wright State also was second in the country this year in rebounds per game and Milwaukee limited them to just 32 for the game while UWM hauled in 44.

The win is the fourth-straight for Milwaukee, moving them to 4-2 in league play. Both marks are the best since a five-game winning streak moved the 2007-08 team to 5-1 to start league play.

The 22-point victory ties the largest win for UWM at Wright State in program history, equaling the same margin in a 74-52 win on Mar. 4, 2001.

Five Panthers reached double figures in scoring, including a team-high 20 by Steph Kostowicz – just missing her second-straight double-double with nine rebounds.

82-60
The Panthers have posted the same score of 82-60 in back-to-back wins over Valparaiso and Wright State, with quite a few similarities in the two big W's.

• Milwaukee held both opponents to just eight points in the second quarter in both of those games.

• In both wins, the Panthers used a big run that started at the end of the first quarter and went late into the second.

• Despite the big halftime leads, UWM didn't let up in the second half of either game, leading by at least 19 the whole second half against Valpo and at least 20 points in the final 20 minutes against Wright State.

WINNING BIG
The win at Wright State on Thursday was Milwaukee's second-straight and third overall win this season by 22 points. That is the most 20-point wins in a single season since the 2009-10 team also had three 20-point wins.

The 22-point margin of victory was nearly the highest in the history of the program. The only bigger one? That would be Kyle Rechlicz's first-ever game on the Panther bench, a 24-point win over Chicago State, 82-58, back on November 9, 2012.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING
With its win over Wright State on Thursday, Milwaukee claimed its fourth win in a row. That marks the longest winning streak under head coach Kyle Rechlicz. Milwaukee's last string of four or more came in 2007-08 when it rattled off five in a row early in conference play.

EARLY SUCCESS
It's no secret Milwaukee has had plenty of early success this season. UWM got its ninth win of the year on Jan. 16 against Valparaiso - the fastest Milwaukee has gotten to nine wins since the 2001-02 season when they got their ninth win on Jan. 10.

MAKE IT RAIN
Milwaukee hit a season-high 11 threes in its 82-60 win over Valparaiso Jan. 16. While making three-pointers is nothing new for the Panthers, the rate at which UWM was clicking against the Crusaders was worth taking note. Milwaukee went 11-for-16 in that win for a .688 percentage, ranking third all-time in program history.

THE KOST OF ADMISSION
Steph Kostowicz has posted a career-high 20 points in back-to-back wins for Milwaukee. The sophomore has stuffed the stat sheet in both games, averaging 10 rebounds, 4.5 assists and four steals in the two wins. In the win over Valpo, Kostowicz not only had a career-high in points, but also in steals (six) and assists (five).

LIKING LEAGUE PLAY
Since the conference season started, the Panthers have seen some significant improvements in quite a few major statistical categories.

                        HL      Non-Conf.
FG%                .412   .367
3FG%               .376   .302
Turnover Margin -0.2    -4.6
3's Made/GM    7.5     6.6
3's Made/GM Against   4.9         7.2
PPG Against       58.5   64.7

DE-FENSE
Milwaukee has been posting some impressive defensive numbers over the last month. In its last eight games, the Panthers are averaging giving up just 57 points against per contest. There have been quite a few standout performances during that stretch, as well.

In it's 62-46 win over Cleveland State on Jan. 9, UWM held the Vikings to just 12 made field goals - just one shy of the school record. The 14 first-half points also marked the lowest total of the season and the third-lowest in school history. In fact, the Panthers held CSU without a field goal for over 10 minutes between the first and second half.

Then, one game later against UIC, the Panthers overcame a rough second quarter to limit the Flames to just 11 and 12 points in each of the final two periods to claim a 54-53 win.

Finally, in back-to-back 82-60 wins over Valparaiso and Wright State, Milwaukee held its opponents to single digits in scoring in three of the eight quarters in those two games. That's even more impressive considering WSU came into that game averaging 80.4 ppg - the 11th best total in the nation.

PUSHING THE RIGHT BUTTONS
Coach Rechlicz has mixed up her starting line up over the last couple of games with plenty of solid results in each contest. Against Youngstown State, Christina Wakeman got the nod for the first time this season and made the most of her 13 minutes. The junior scored the first five points of the game for Milwaukee and finished with a season-high seven points to go with five rebounds. Then, against Cleveland State, Jenny Lindner came off the bench for the first time this season and went 7-for-10 from the floor for 14 points - her highest scoring output in nearly a month (25 pts at EIU, 12/10).

THE W'S AND THE L'S
As one might expect, there are certainly some stark statistical differences in Milwaukee's 10 wins compared to its seven losses:

                          W's    L's
FG%                  .435   .310
Def FG%             .338   .442
3FG%                 .401   .231
3FG's Made/GM 7.5     5.1
PPG                   70.2   55.4
PPG Against         55.7   72.3

FAST STARTS
One other notable stat from Milwaukee's 10 wins is how fast the team gets out of the starting blocks. The Panthers are outscoring their opponents 369-242 in the opening half when they win, including a 189-112 edge in the second quarter.

STARTING THE CONFERENCE SEASON
After an 82-60 win over Wright State on Thursday, Milwaukee improved to 4-2 in Horizon League play this season. While it's still early, that marks the best start through six league games under head coach Kyle Rechlicz. In fact, it's the best conference start for UWM since the 2007-08 season when that team went 5-1 in the early going.

CLOSING OUT THE NON-CONFERENCE
With Milwaukee's 55-48 win over Chicago State on Jan. 3, it finished out its non-conference schedule with a winning record of 6-5. In fact, while it has been close plenty of times, UWM has not finished with a winning out-of-conference mark since the 2001-02 season when it went 6-5. Ironically, the sixth win in that season also came on the road against Chicago State.

WORKING THE GLASS
Milwaukee has made a clear emphasis on the rebounding front this season, and it has shown. The Panthers are out-rebounding their opponents by a remarkable 7.2 per game, including a decisive 44-32 edge against Wright State - a team that came into that game ranked second in the nation in rebounding. In fact, UWM is averaging 10.5 more boards than its opponents in wins (42.2-31.7), and still has the edge in losses, though the margin is much closer (41.6-39.0).

Here's a look at some of the largest rebounding margins for Milwaukee thus far this season:

1. +24 vs. IPFW (50-26)
2. +21 at Youngstown State (46-25)
3. +20 at Chicago State (42-22)
4. +17 vs. La Salle (53-36)
5. +14 vs. Valparaiso (42-28)

LOTS OF CHARITY SUCCESS
The Panthers are off to an impressive start from the free throw line, currently near the lead in the Horizon League with a 73.3 percent clip after sinking 211-of-288 in their first 17 games. That's a better ratio than the past few seasons. Milwaukee shot 69.8 percent last year and have not finished over 70 percent since a program-record 79.1 percent showing back in 2010-11.

In fact, Milwaukee has two of the best free throw shooters in the league this season. Sierra Ford-Washington - who twice has gone 8-for-8 in a game this year - ranks fourth in the league at 85.5. Meanwhile, Jenny Lindner - who went 10-for-10 once this season and hasn't missed a free throw in 2016 - ranks second at 88.9 percent this year.

400 AND COUNTING!
The Panthers have turned it up from three-point range recently, but have always been a threat from long distance. In fact, the team has a long history of making three's. Milwaukee has made at least one three-pointer in every game dating back to an 0-for-4 showing from long-distance against Marquette back on November 26, 2002. That makes 406 games in a row heading into the game against the Norse. It's still a ways to go for the NCAA record, however, which is held by Canisius at 510 in a row (1994-2011). The Horizon League record was halted four years ago when Loyola came up empty at 446. Cleveland State held the record previously - which was also the NCAA mark at the time - at 408 (1992-2007). For comparison, the NBA's longest streak is the Dallas Mavericks at 1,108 in a row.

SHARP SHOOTER
Milwaukee's Alexis Lindstrom has hit some big shots this season; quite of few of which have come from behind the arc. Playing her first season in Milwaukee, the junior has connected on at least one three pointer in all 17 games this season, hitting three or more five different times and netting a season-high five against La Salle Nov. 28.

In fact, Lindstrom hasn't gone a full game without a made three pointer since going 0-for-1 March 8, 2014 while she was playing at Northern Illinois. One game after that performance, Lindstrom drained a career-high nine triples in the first game of the MAC conference tournament.

INSIDE OUT
While it's no secret that Milwaukee has been hitting plenty of threes since Kyle Rechlicz was named head coach, this year's squad has a different identity than Rechlicz's first three teams. The Panthers have been establishing an inside presence much more this season, racking up 412 points in the paint through 16 games. That includes a 38-point performance against Valparaiso Jan. 16 - the third time in the last four games UWM has posted at least 30 points in the paint.

BLOCK PARTY
Sophomore Steph Kostowicz has made quite an impact down in the post defensively for Milwaukee this season. One year after averaging just over one block per game despite battling an injury, the second-year player is averaging 1.6 blocks per game. That number ranks second in the conference and 96th in the nation.

AN OLD, OLD WOODEN SHIP
Milwaukee's offense has been very diverse this season. One year after Ashley Green led the team in scoring in 20 of UWM's 30 games, the Panthers have already had four different players lead the team in scoring through 16 games this season. Jenny Lindner leads the way with six, with Sierra Ford-Washington (five) and Steph Kostowicz (five) also big in the early going.

5-FOR-5
Despite playing in a season-low 19 minutes due to foul trouble, Steph Kostowicz still made quite the impact in Milwaukee's 73-60 win over IPFW Dec. 28. In fact, Kostowicz was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the game, the first time a Panther has finished without a miss in a game with a minimum of five attempts since Ashlee Imperial's 6-for-6 performance against Loyola back on Jan. 24, 2009.

10-FOR-10
While Kostowicz did it from the floor against IPFW, Jenny Lindner was perfect from the free throw line in that win. The sophomore drained all 10 of her attempts from the charity stripe, the first Panther to do so since Angela Rodriquez also went 10-for-10 at New Mexico State Nov. 30, 2013.

THE BIG 2-0...TIMES TWO
The Panther offense certainly was clicking in the 82-71 win at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10. Milwaukee shot nearly 50 percent as a team in that game, headlined by Jenny Lindner and Sierra Ford-Washington both netting 25 points apiece. That marked the first time a pair of Panthers scored at least 20 points in a game this season.

ALL A-BOARD
Steph Kostowicz's performance against NIU on Dec. 3 was one for the ages. The sophomore hauled in an incredible 20 rebounds in the big win to go with 11 points for her second double-double of the season. The 20 rebounds shattered her previous career-high of 14 and ties her for sixth-most in program history. It is also the first time a Panther has collected 20+ rebounds in one game since Traci Edwards accomplished that feat Dec. 30, 2006.

I'LL TAKE LINDNER FOR 25 PLEASE
Sophomore Jenny Lindner was red hot in the second half of Milwaukee's win over EIU Dec. 10, finishing the game tied for a team high 25 points. That was already the second time this season the Neillsville, Wis. native has notched 25 this season, tying her career high set late last year. It marked the fifth 20-point game already in her young career.
1. 25 vs. UMKC, 11/16/15
2. 25 vs. Youngstown State, 2/19/15
3. 25 vs. Eastern Illinois 12/10/15
4. 20 vs. Cleveland State, 2/28/15
5. 20 vs. La Salle, 11/28/15

EFFICIENT, TOO
Not only did Lindner tie her career high with those 25 points in the season opener, but she did it with some of the most efficient shooting in school history by making 10 of her 12 shots on the night. That 83.3 field-goal percentage marked the third-best marksmanship in a single UWM game.

1. .909 (10-of-11), Nichole Drummond, 2/11/06
2. .857 (12-of-14), Traci Edwards, 2/21/08
3. .833 (10-of-12), Lindner

PRESEASON PUBLICITY
Sophomore Jenny Lindner was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team in the league's annual preseason poll by the staff at the College Sports Madness website.

NEW-LOOK PANTHERS
Milwaukee will have a new look to the roster this season after graduating three influential seniors from a year ago. The roster features six players who were on the team in 2014-15 and nine newcomers. Among the new faces is a trio of transfers (one will be sitting out, one a JUCO transfer and one ready to play this season after sitting out a year ago due to transfer rules) as well as six true freshmen all looking to make a good first impression.

TIME TO STEP UP
The situation allows the Panthers an opportunity for new players to step up or returning players to expand their roles from last season. The team will return just under half - 48.6 percent - of its scoring (963 of 1,981 total points) and just over half - 51.5 percent - of rebounding (558 of 1,083 total individual rebounds). When you break it down further, senior Jordyn Swan, who will miss the season due to injury, accounted for returning totals of 201 points and 108 boards.

WATCH 'EM ANYWHERE
Fans will have the opportunity to watch the Panthers all season long. The team will play five games on local broadcast television, once again returning to Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. Another 16 games will be carried live online on ESPN3 as well as four other road games via opponent platforms. For the Panthers' TWC SportsChannel contests, Bob Brainerd and former UWM great Maria Viall will once again be calling the action.

HEAD TO THE BIG 920
Nearly every Milwaukee regular-season game will once again be available on the radio and online via "The Big 920" on your AM dial. Scott Warras is back for his 10th season donning the headset. Fans can also catch Warras' call with the majority of the team's ESPN3 webcasts. A select few games will not be aired due to broadcast conflicts.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Ashley Green: G/F; 5' 11"; Senior

#32 Steph Kostowicz: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#20 Jenny Lindner: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#5 Alexis Lindstrom: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#41 Jordyn Swan: G/F; 6' 0"; Senior

#43 Christina Wakeman: C; 6' 3"; Junior

#30 Sierra Ford-Washington: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Ashley Green
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G/F

#32 Steph Kostowicz
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: F

#20 Jenny Lindner
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Alexis Lindstrom
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#41 Jordyn Swan
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G/F

#43 Christina Wakeman
: 6' 3"; Junior
: C

#30 Sierra Ford-Washington
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G