MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Jamie Reit hit a go-ahead three-pointer with a minute left and the Milwaukee women's basketball team hung on for a 61-57 win over Cleveland State on Senior Night. With the win, the Panthers seal the No. 5 seed for the Horizon League Tournament.
 
"To step up and hit that shot, especially on senior day with all of her family and friends here - it was cool to hear the gym erupt when that happened," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented. "I kept telling her to look for a pullup. It's a killer shot for her. She was aggressive and we need her to be that way heading into tournament time."
 
Cleveland State (19-10, 9-9 Horizon League) erased an eight-point deficit and tied the game 55-55 but Reit came through on the ensuing possession, hitting a triple from the win. The Vikings had a look to tie but Isabelle Gradwell's attempt was off the mark and the Panthers hit three free throws in the final six seconds to hang on for the victory.
 
In the first half, the Panthers (14-15, 11-7 Horizon League) shook off a slow start and rattled off an 8-0 run to close the first quarter and double up the Vikings. The defense stepped up for Milwaukee, holding CSU to a 3-for-15 performance from the floor in the first.
 
Milwaukee carried momentum into the second, hitting five of its first eight shots to push the lead to double digits. Emma Wittmershaus came off the bench to lead the way for the Panthers, going 4-for-4 in the second, scoring 10 points and pulling in five rebounds. Milwaukee knocked down 53.3 percent of its shots in the frame.
 
"We talked a lot about her and not getting opportunity because of how well Lizzie was playing," Rechlicz stated. "I wanted to get Lizzie some rest and she [Emma] came in and proved it. It was so fun to watch her dominate."
 
The Panthers held Cleveland State to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor and 20 percent from long range in the first.
 
After halftime, the Vikings began to find some rhythm and cut their 11-point deficit to seven at the end of the third. In the fourth, Mariah White took over, scoring 10 points to keep Cleveland State in the game.
 
The Panthers shot just 29.2 percent from the floor in the second half but finished 9-for-12 (75 percent) from the free throw line to seal the victory.
 
Four players reached double digits for Milwaukee with Reit, Sydney Staver, and Bre Cera all scoring 11. Wittmershaus finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
 
Reit added 10 rebounds as she recorded her second double-double this season.
 
With the win today, the Panthers will be the No. 5 seed for the Horizon League Tournament and will face Oakland at the Klotsche Center on Tuesday, March 3. Tipoff for the postseason contest is scheduled for 7:00 pm with live coverage links available on MKEPanthers.com.