MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Thanks to a solid fourth quarter yet again, the Milwaukee women's basketball team earned a 59-54 victory over Youngstown State on Thursday evening. The Panthers shut down the Penguins to just 2-for-14 from the floor and outscored YSU 15-6 in the final frame for the comeback win.
 
"That was an incredible defensive performance in that fourth quarter. We were so locked in with our communication and our will," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented. "Brandi Bisping – her defense tonight. I can't even credit it enough. She was all over the floor. Our posts really stepped up."
 
The Milwaukee (13-15, 10-7 Horizon League) defense was suffocating in the final 10 minutes, holding Youngstown State to just two points through eight and a half minutes. The Penguins finished 2-for-14 from the floor and 0-for-4 four three-point range in the fourth.
 
Youngstown State (13-15, 6-11 Horizon League) actually led for a majority of the game, 23:36 to be exact, but it was Milwaukee who converted when it needed to and hit free throws down the stretch for the win.
 
The Penguins' Chelsea Olson got things rolling early for the visitors, scoring the team's first eight points. Milwaukee got field goals from four different players in the opening five minutes to pull ahead 11-8.
 
YSU then rattled off a 10-2 run before back-to-back three-pointers from Sydney Levy and Sydney Staver gave the Panthers a one-point advantage after the first.
 
The Penguins took control in the second, shooting 70 percent from the floor. A pair of Bisping free throws and a layup from Odegard had Milwaukee up three with 2:49 to play in the second but a 7-0 run from YSU put the Penguins on top at the half.
 
Then the Panthers' defense took over. Milwaukee forced nine turnovers and held Youngstown State to 6-for-26 (23.1 percent) from the floor and 1-for-6 from three after halftime.
 
Odegard and Bisping combined for 14 point and 10 rebounds in the second half alone as Milwaukee controlled the paint.
 
Bisping recorded her third double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Odegard led Milwaukee with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting.

"People haven't even really gotten a chance to see another stud post we have because Lizzie is playing so well," Rechlicz commented. "Emma is special and will be ready to step up if and when we need her."
 
McKaela Schmelzer joined in double digits as she matched a season-high with 11 points and added four assists.
 
"She is our commander and chief in essence," Rechlicz said of Schmelzer. "At the end of the game, I just trust her to be out there. She was playing some incredible defense down the stretch as well."
 
Milwaukee wraps up the regular season on Saturday, February 29 with a 1:00 pm tipoff against Cleveland State. With a Senior Day victory, the Panthers would clinch the No. 5 seed for the Horizon League Tournament. Tickets and live coverage links for the game can be found on MKEPanthers.com.