BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – After fighting through foul trouble a majority of the game, the Milwaukee women's basketball team kept it close and had a chance to come away with a win but last second efforts fell just short. The Panthers grabbed a late lead, but the Falcons scored the final seven points of the game to hand Milwaukee a 64-62 defeat.
 
"Today, we played with the heart and toughness we need to win a championship," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented." Unfortunately, we lacked focus on the details and discipline. Bowling Green is a very good team and they are playing with a lot of confidence. I was hoping our experience would take over in the second half, but we just couldn't execute well enough down the stretch to win. We trust in this team and I am confident that we will find a way to get back on track."
 
With 2:08 remaining on the clock, Sydney Staver knocked down a pair of free throws to give Milwaukee (3-1) it's largest lead at 62-57. Bowling Green responded with a three-pointer and after two Panthers' turnovers, three straight free throws had the Falcons on top 63-62.
 
Rechlicz dialed up a play out of a timeout and Milwaukee got a solid look but Megan Walstad's layup caromed off the rim, leading to a BGSU rebound. The Falcons (3-0) hit one of two free throws on the ensuing possession and with one last chance to win or tie, Brandi Bisping's last-second layup was just off the mark.
 
In the first half, Milwaukee's three-point shooting was keeping it close. The Panthers knocked down six triples including three from Staver to keep it tight. MKE had a chance to pull ahead at the end of the half but a costly turnover led to a fast-break layup on the other end, giving Bowling Green a 39-36 advantage through 20 minutes.
 
MKE dominated the boards in the third period 14-7 including six on the offensive end but the Falcons continued to get to the free throw line, hitting all six attempts. The Panthers shot just 29.4 percent in the third.
 
Bisping began to get momentum going toward the Panthers' way in the final period, drawing three charges with three fouls herself, but it was Bowling Green who regained the energy in the final minutes.
 
Staver led three in double digits with 15 points. Walstad totaled 11 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of assists while Bisping added 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Milwaukee hit all 12 of its free throw attempts but for the first time this year, the Panthers were outshot at the charity stripe with 12 attempts compared to 31 for Bowling Green.
 
MKE got 34 points from its bench including eight from Emma Wittmershaus and nine from Kendall Nead.
 
"Fouls played a huge role in how we had to manage this game," Rechlicz added. "I thought some of our newcomers really stepped up at times when they were needed. This is going to pay off big in conference games when we have to play back-to-back games."
 
Now that the non-conference schedule is wrapped up, the Panthers enter Horizon League play with a road series at Green Bay. The Panthers will play the Phoenix on December 12-13 with games on both days tipping off at 1:00 pm. Live coverage links are available on MKEPanthers.com.