MADISON, Wis. - Battling their third Big Ten opponent in one week, the Milwaukee women's basketball team was put to the test yet again on Sunday. The Panthers were plagued by turnovers early and couldn't get anything going from three-point range as they fell 71-40 to Wisconsin at the Kohl Center.
 
In the first, the Badgers took advantage of Milwaukee miscues as the Panthers recorded seven turnovers and seven fouls which led to 10 free throw attempts for Wisconsin. The Badgers knocked down eight from the charity stripe to pull ahead by double-digits after 10 minutes.
 
Bre Cera and Lizzie Odegard cashed in field goals early in the second to get the scoring going, but the Badgers quickly had it back to a double-digit advantage after a bucket in the paint with 7:46 to play. The Panthers tried to get something rolling from downtown, but had no luck, going 0-for-5 from three-point range in the second.
 
At 7:08, Emma Wittmershaus converted a layup to put the panthers in double digits, but a four-minute scoring drought allowed Wisconsin to extend its lead to 13 with just over three minutes to play. Following a Sydney Staver jumper, the Badgers scored the next five but a steal and layup from Staver in the closing seconds pulled Milwaukee back within 14 at the half. 
 
After the break, Badgers knocked down a basket on their second possession, but Jamie Reit answered with a steal and a score. Wisconsin was not phased as they rattled off an 16-1 run over the next four minutes to give the Badgers their largest least at 48-19 and force a Milwaukee timeout.
 
The Badgers continued to stretch their lead in the third quarter, finishing 10-for-14 from the floor including going 2-for-3 from three-point range. The shooting struggles continued for Milwaukee as Wisconsin pulled ahead 52-26 after three periods.
 
Odegard got things started in the fourth, converting an up-and-under in the lane before Sydney Levy found space to knock down the Panthers' first three-pointer of the game. Later, Staver converted a layup in the paint and Odegard added a triple, but the Badgers had an answer for each score as they kept their distance the remainder of the way.
 
Milwaukee had trouble finding the range, going 0-for-16 from three-point range in the first three quarters before Levy's triple. The Panthers finished 2-for-23 from long distance.
 
Odegard led the Panthers with nine points to go with six rebounds and a block. Reit pulled in a team-high seven rebounds to go with six points for Milwaukee.
 
In 17 minutes off the bench, Staver finished 4-for-5 from the field for eight points to go with two boards, an assist, and a steal.

The Panthers' first free throws did not come until the second half, finishing 6-for-8 from the line. Meanwhile, the Badgers connected on 14 of their 18 free ones.
 
Milwaukee will next return home to face Arkansas Pine Bluff on Tuesday, November 19. Tipoff from the Klotsche Center is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Tickets and live coverage links for the matchup can be found on MKEPanthers.com