FAIRBORN, Ohio – Four players reached double figures and the Milwaukee women's basketball team recorded its best shooting percentage of the season to topple Wright State on Saturday. The Panthers hit 52.9 percent from the field and converted 52.4 percent from three-point range to earn the season sweep over the Raiders.
 
"We focused on the flow of our offense which was something we did well the first time against Wright State," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented. "I could feel the energy change in practice and I'm really proud we were able to come out and execute in game form."
 
The Panthers (8-14, 5-6 Horizon League) could not miss in the first half, going 9-for-13 from three-point range in the first half to build a six-point advantage. It was quite a turnaround for Milwaukee, who shot a season-low 26 percent in Thursday's loss.
 
"A lot of unselfish play today and people making the extra pass," Rechlicz said. "I thought our juniors and seniors really stepped up today. We played with a purpose and they were determined to find a way to win."
 
Four players scored at least 10 points for just the third time this season, led by Brandi Bisping's 18. The junior finished 6-for-9 from the floor and hit her first three triples to get Milwaukee hot early.
 
Lizzie Odegard was an efficient 8-for-12 from the floor for a season-best 17 points while Jamie Reit (15) and Sydney Staver (12) also reached double digits.
 
Wright State (12-10, 7-4 Horizon League) was knocking down shots early, hitting on its first five attempts to pull ahead 14-5, but Bisping wouldn't let the game get away. Bisping started the game 4-for-4 with three three-pointers to keep the Panthers right in it, down 24-23 at the first break.
 
Milwaukee got help from all over the floor in the second as seven different players scored, shooting 6-for-10 as a group. The Panthers hit four of five from downtown and held Wright State to 15 points to grab a 45-39 halftime advantage.
 
Led by Odegard's eight point, 4-for-4 performance in the third, the Panthers tallied their third straight 20-point quarter, shooting 60 percent from the floor. Milwaukee built the lead to as many as 15 after a Reit triple before the Raiders began to rally back.
 
The Panthers cooled down in the final frame, but stepped up on the defensive end, holding the Raiders to 23.5 percent from the floor and an 0-for-7 performance from three-point range.
 
WSU cut the deficit to as low as seven, but each time, Milwaukee had an answer as they held off any Raiders' attack.
 
Reit added seven rebounds and three assists to her 15-point performance. The senior clutched up with three important triples and finished 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
 
"She [Jamie] played like a senior. Her mentality shifted today because she knows she's a scorer," Rechlicz stated. "The way she is playing is so confident right now. I think our entire team had a sense of confidence tonight. Wright State is a dynamic team, and this was such great win for our program."
 
Bisping also added seven rebounds for the Panthers as well as a trio of assists.
 
Despite the Raiders owning the best rebounding numbers in the Horizon League, the Panthers dominated the boards in the win. MKE pulled in 40 rebounds compared to 31 for WSU.
 
Milwaukee's previous best percentage this season was 50.9 in a win over Parkside.
 
Milwaukee next returns home to the Klotsche Center where it hosts five of the final seven regular season games. The Panthers kick it off with Green Bay on Saturday, February 8 for Alumni Day. Tickets along with live coverage links can be found on MKEPanthers.com.