MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Thanks to a huge second half effort from Jamie Reit and five players scoring in double digits, the Milwaukee women's basketball team hung on for a 65-60 victory over Green Bay on Saturday afternoon. Reit scored all 13 of her points in the second half, locking down her first career double-double helping the Panthers earn their second straight victory.
 
"Green Bay is such a great team. The way they move the ball on the offense is something we even try to emulate," head coach Kyle Rechlicz commented. "I have a lot of respect for what Kevin Borseth has done and I'm just excited for our team to put two wins together and I think we are playing really good basketball right now."
 
Reit finished 5-for-10 from the floor for 13 points and added a career-high 12 rebounds while dishing out a pair of assists on Saturday. The senior knocked down three of her four triples and reached double digits for the third straight game.
 
"She is really playing like a senior. It's really fun to coach her," Rechlicz said. "She's ready to lead this team and she's doing an excellent job."
 
The victory is the first over Green Bay (12-12, 7-5 Horizon League) since February 17, 2017 and just the third since 2007.
 
Halftime couldn't have come at a better time for the Panthers (9-14, 6-6 Horizon League) after a tough offensive second quarter that allowed Green Bay to pull ahead 33-28 at the break. MKE shot just 16.7 percent in the second.
 
In the third, the Phoenix lead reached seven before Reit took over. The senior scored six of the next nine points to help Milwaukee pull in front heading to the fourth.
 
The teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter before Bre Cera scored consecutive field goals to put Milwaukee up 56-53 with 4:09 to play. On the next possession, Reit drilled another three-pointer to go up six and defense and free throws took care of the rest.
 
The Panthers shook the fourth quarter struggles as they hit over 40 percent of their shots from the field and from long range.
 
MKE finished 10-for-10 at the free throw line including going 6-for-6 in the final frame.
 
Milwaukee held Green Bay to 1-for-6 from three-point range as the Phoenix tried to cut into their deficit.
 
Cera (12 points), Odegard (10), McKaela Schmelzer (11), and Sydney Staver (11) all joined in double digits for Milwaukee. Schmelzer hit three triples and had four assists to just one turnover while Odegard added nine boards and a team-high five assists.
 
"She [Lizzie] played incredible," Rechlicz stated. "I can't say enough about how she's playing."
 
With the win, Milwaukee earned consecutive victories for the first time this season. The Panthers have won three of the last four and moved up to sixth in the Horizon League standings.
 
Milwaukee continues its homestead with Oakland on Friday, February 14. The contest marks the annual College of Nursing Pink Game. Tickets and live coverage links for the 7:00 pm tipoff can be found on MKEPanthers.com.