ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Milwaukee women's basketball team came out strong on Saturday, shooting 57.1 percent in the first quarter, but couldn't keep up the pace as they fell 78-62 to Oakland University. The Panthers hit just one of their final 15 three-point attempts at the Golden Grizzlies' O'Rena.
 
"I think Oakland is playing some really great basketball right now and unfortunately we allowed them to control the pace of the game," head coach Kyle Rechlicz stated. "I thought we had our opportunities but missed a lot of layups and in a fast-paced game like that you have to hit shots to win."
 
Milwaukee (5-11, 2-3 Horizon League) had one of its more productive quarters to open the game, finishing 8-for-14 from the floor with a pair of triples. The Panthers matched Oakland, the second highest scoring team in the Horizon League, step-for-step in the first 10 minutes.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (8-8, 3-2 Horizon League) opened the game with a pair of free throws but a layup from Lizzie Odegard and a three-pointer from Sydney Levy quickly handed MKE its first lead.
 
Oakland responded with five points of their own and the two teams continued that the rest of the first with neither team jumping ahead by more than four points.
 
Bre Cera provided an early spark for Milwaukee in the second but as a whole, the shots stopped falling. All six of the Panthers' triples missed the mark while they finished 4-for-13 (30.8) percent from the field overall. MKE committed seven turnovers including one leading to a buzzer-beating layup to give Oakland a 35-29 lead at the break.
 
The trend continued for Milwaukee after halftime, hitting 33.3 percent of its shots while coming up empty on four three-point attempts. The two teams traded field goals to open the third but an 8-0 Oakland run had the home team up 45-31 with 6:45 to play in the third.
 
Brandi Bisping and Emma Wittmershaus tried to help Milwaukee climb back in with the next 10 Panthers' points, but Oakland matched each score and carried an eight-point lead into the fourth.
 
"I thought Brandi really took over when we got down both from a physical and a mental standpoint," Rechlicz said. "She was demanding the ball, finishing in the paint, and also trying to energize our team."
 
Levy cut the deficit to five with her third three-pointer of the game to open the fourth quarter, but another 8-0 Golden Grizzlies burst put Oakland up double digits and it never looked back. The Panthers improved their field goal percentage by a few points, but Oakland shot 52.9 percent in the final frame to seal the deal.
 
Milwaukee had four players reach double digits for the first time since the season opener. Bisping led with 15 points while Levy (11), Odegard (11), and Bre Cera (10) also joined. Cera added three rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals.
 
Jamie Reit pulled in a game-high six boards to go with four points and an assist.
 
Alyssa Moore provided a spark off the bench for Milwaukee and finished with a plus/minus of three, the Panthers' only positive in that category. Moore had three points, two rebounds, an assist, and steal in 13 minutes.
 
"I thought Alyssa gave us a huge spark off the bench tonight. She's been working really hard on her handles before and after practices," Rechlicz mentioned. "She made some great decisions when she got to the basket, both finishing and finding shooters."
 
After 10 first half turnovers, Milwaukee limited the miscues to just two after halftime to finish with 12, the second lowest mark this season.
 
"In the first, I thought their pressure was rushing us and we were traveling in the paint as their help side would step over. In the second, I thought we were much more balance and in control as we got to the basket," Rechlicz commented. "I thought our guard play in the second half to not allow passing turnovers was a moment of growth for us."
 
Next up, Milwaukee returns home for a two-game swing against UIC and IUPUI. The Panthers host the Flames on January 17 for the annual School Day Game presented by Prairie Farms with tipoff scheduled for 11:00 am. Live coverage links for the day game can be found on MKEPanthers.com.