MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Following a five-game road trip, the Milwaukee women's basketball team looks to extend its Horizon League unbeaten streak with a series against league newcomer, Robert Morris. Tipoff for both Saturday and Sunday is scheduled for 12:00 pm. Live audio with Matt Menzl on the call along with a link for live stats can be found on MKEPanthers.com.
 
With no fans permitted at many venues this season including the Klotsche Center through November and December, fans can engage with the Panthers' Virtual Gameday hub, a page on MKEPanthers.com that houses any and all links fans will need for that gameday experience.
 
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
After canceling its season opener, which was originally scheduled for December 5, Robert Morris opened the 2020-21 campaign at Northern Kentucky. The Colonials are one of two new members of the Horizon League along with Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
Led by Charlie Buscaglia, four-time Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year, RMU earned its fourth consecutive 20-win season and captured its fourth straight Northeast Conference crown. The Colonials advanced to the NEC Tournament Semifinals before COVID-19 shut down the remainder of the season.
 
Northern Kentucky welcomed RMU to the league with a sweep, holding the Colonials to just 41.5 points per game on 28.8 percent shooting. Robert Morris was dominated on the boards, as the Norse held a 96-55 rebounding advantage in two games.
 
The Colonials return five players that started 15 or more games a year ago including junior guard Isabella Posset and senior forward Holly Forbes. Megan Callahan scored 15 points in the weekend series at NKU to lead Robert Morris while Forbes and Nina Augustin added 12.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Saturday's contest marks the first between Robert Morris and Milwaukee.
 
WHATS ON TAP?
Milwaukee will have a holiday break before ringing in the new year at Detroit Mercy. The Panthers take on the Titans on New Year's Day at 4:00 pm before game two of the series the following day.
 
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS LIVE
Matt Menzl is back for his fifth year as the play-by-play voice of the Panthers on the Black and Gold Network. Links for audio along with any TV coverage can be found on MKEPanthers.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Down one entering the final 10 minutes, the Panthers caught fire early in the fourth, rattling off a 17-2 run to help seal a 59-51 victory over Green Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers completed the season series sweep of Green Bay for the first time since 2005-06.
 
A SWEEP TO START
The Panthers traveled up to the Kress Center and earned a season sweep of Green Bay for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Dating back to last season, Milwaukee has earned three consecutive victories over the Phoenix for the first time in program history.
 
Milwaukee is off to a 5-1 start, its best start since the 2016-17 season when the Panthers opened the year 7-1. Additionally, MKE is 2-0 in the Horizon League for the first time since 2006-07.
 
COLLEGE INSIDER TOP 25 POLL
With a pair of victories over Green Bay, who was ranked three spots ahead of Milwaukee, the Panthers moved up to No. 14 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. As of December 15, Milwaukee has the most victories of any team in the top 15. The Panthers'only loss of the season was to Bowling Green, who is now 4-1 and ranked No. 23 in the poll.
 
WIN-SCONSIN
With the sweep of Green Bay and a win earlier in the year over Marquette, Milwaukee is 3-0 against fellow Wisconsin teams. In those three games, the Panthers have been solid all around.

• 61.3 Points Per Game
• 41.1 Field Goal %
• 35.0 Three-Point %
• 86.7 Free Throw %
• +2.3 rebounding margin

WONDERFUL WALSTAD
Megan Walstad continues to prove why she is one of the best in the Horizon League as she earned her first Player of the Week honor. The redshirt sophomore averaged a double-double of 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the weekend series at Green Bay. She was also named College Sports Madness High-Major Conference Player of the Week. Walstad has now scored in double digits each of the last four games and has pulled in at least 10 rebounds in four of the six games, averaging a double-double for the year. With 62 total rebounds, Walstad currently leads the league and ranks eighth in the nation.
 
SENIORS SHOWING OUT
Coming into the 2020-21 season, Milwaukee knew it had a good mix of experience and young talent. The Panthers' five seniors (Brandi Bisping, Bre Cera, Miquela Santoro, McKaela Schmelzer, and Sydney Staver) have shown that experience so far through these six games. As a collective, those five are averaging 36.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game with each playing at least 23 minutes per contest. Each one has proved to be a major factor with 11 combined double-digit scoring performances so far.
 
ARE YOU CERA-IOUS?
Senior Bre Cera was everywhere this past weekend, doing it all for the Panthers. In the two games, Cera averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. She finished 4-for-7 from three-point range and was 50 percent from the floor overall. In Saturday's win, Cera cashed in on a career-high three triples, scoring 13 points and adding five rebounds. On Sunday, she led the team with six assists, matching her career-best.
 
CLEANING UP AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
The Panthers continue to prove that they are one of the nation's top free throw shooting teams. Milwaukee finished 23-for-26 this past weekend to improve to 96-for-113 (85.0 percent) on the season. With that percentage, the Panthers currently rank seventh in NCAA Division I and first among teams with at least 50 attempts.
 
MKE opened the weekend 9-for-9 at the line to extend its consecutive made free throw streak to 34 dating back to the Panthers December 2 game against Marquette.
 
D-FENSE... D-FENSE
The Panthers have been stiff on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 53rd in the nation in both field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Milwaukee is allowing just 57.3 points per game, holding opponents to 60 points or less in all five victories.
 
A DIFFERENT LOOK
The 2020-21 campaign will be anything but normal as the Horizon League released a 20-game schedule for each team with schools playing one league opponent twice each week with games taking place on consecutive days at the same location.
 
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
Due to a shortened schedule with safety precautions this season, Milwaukee was scheduled to play just four non-conference contests. The Panthers made the most of them, however, finishing 3-1 with wins over Ball State, Bradley, and Marquette. MKE's 3-1 start is the best since 2016-17 when the Panthers opened the year winning seven of their first eight games.
 
BENCH MOB
So far through six games, the Panthers have showed their depth with 11 different players seeing the floor. Over the last four games, Milwaukee's bench has outscored the opposition's bench 81-47.
 
STAVER STEPPING IN
After missing the first two games, Sydney Staver has provided a spark on offense, averaging 11.8 points per contest. The senior led Milwaukee against Bowling Green, scoring 15 points on 3-for-5 shooting from three-point range and has scored in double digits in three of the last four games.
 
SOMETHING TO PROVE
Milwaukee was predicted to finish seventh of 12 in the 2020-21 Horizon League Preseason Poll with 76 poll points. Defending champion IUPUI earned all 12 first place votes as the Jaguars were predicted to repeat.
 
 YEAR 50
November 25 not only marked this year's season opener, but it was also the start of the 50th season of Milwaukee women's basketball. Kyle Rechlicz, in her ninth season, is the seventh coach in program history and third with at least 100 victories. As a program since inception in 1971-72, the Panthers have totaled 13 conference or district championships, two NCAA Tournament appearances, 19 Bud K. Haidet Hall of Famers, nine All-Americans, and much more.
 
CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Although the Milwaukee Athletic Department announced it will not host spectators for any home men's or women's basketball games in the months of November and December, fans will have the opportunity to watch the Panthers all season long. All of Milwaukee's home games will be carried live online at ESPN+. Additional information for road game coverage can be found online.
 
Panther fans will also be able to listen to this year's games everywhere they go, as Matt Menzl calls all the action on the Black & Gold Network. Menzl will be calling the action for all regular season contests as well as all postseason action. The Black & Gold Network is streaming live online and can be accessed at MKEPanthers.com.
 
BLACK & GOLD ON DEMAND
Panther fans can also re-live all of the action by listening to archived games on the Black & Gold Radio Network. All games are chronicled at mixlr.com/milwaukee-panthers/showreel where fans can re-live Matt Menzl's broadcast in its entirety.