MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Brandi Bisping scored a career-high 28 points including 18 in the first half as the Milwaukee women's basketball team hung on to top Oakland 74-67 on Pink Night, sponsored by the College of Nursing. The Panthers finished 12-for-13 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to ice Milwaukee's third straight victory.
 
"I thought that we played outstanding. We had a small stretch with too many turnovers but other than that, we dictated the pace of the game and the toughness," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented.
 
Bisping finished the night 9-for-11 and added 10 rebounds to record her second double-double of the year. The junior went 2-for-2 from three-point range and 8-for-8 from the free throw line to help surpass her previous career-best of 22 earlier this season.
 
"She brings it every single day. I thought our team did a great job of finding her early," Rechlicz said. She stayed in her shot and played some excellent minutes."
 
The Panthers controlled the first half and built their lead up to as many as 16 but that quickly evaporated as Oakland turned up the pressure in the third quarter.
 
The Golden Grizzles forced nine Milwaukee third-quarter turnovers and went on a 12-0 run in 2:27 to cut the Panthers' lead to four.
 
Oakland kept coming in the fourth quarter, but Milwaukee had an answer for each score as the two teams traded blows back and forth.
 
The Golden Grizzlies pulled it as close as two after just their third three-pointer of the night but after two more Bisping free throws, Milwaukee locked down on defense and scored five straight points off free throws to put the game out of reach.
 
The Panthers had it going from long range early on as Bisping knocked down a pair of triples and Sydney Levy added another in the first quarter to put Milwaukee on top 17-15.
 
Jamie Reit stuffed the stat sheet in the second quarter as she scored five points and added a rebound, an assist, and a steal as the Panthers outscored Oakland 20-15 for a seven-point halftime advantage.
 
Reit added four more early in the third before the Golden Grizzlies stormed back.
 
For the fourth straight game, Reit finished in double digits, going 7-for-13 from the floor for 17 points. The senior added nine rebounds, one assist, and a pair of blocks.
 
"She [Jamie] is such a dynamic player because she can hit the three and get to the rim," Rechlicz added. "She is playing so steady and I want the ball in her hands."
 
Lizzie Odegard also reached double figures for Milwaukee as she poured in 16 points to go with five boards and two assists.
 
"Lizzie had some unbelievable catches in this game. When you think about how athletic she was getting the balls that our guards were passing to her," Rechlicz said. "She's always been such a great defender but tonight she also showed she is a great offensive player."
 
As a team, Milwaukee dominated the glass, outrebounding Oakland 43-30 with nine different players pulling in a board.
 
The Panthers remain at home to take on Detroit Mercy on Sunday, February 16. Tipoff from the Klotsche Center is set for 2:00 pm. Tickets and live coverage links can be found on MKEPanthers.com.