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Macy McGlone

Women's Basketball Cody Bohl

Milwaukee Welcomes CSU for Weekend Series

Milwaukee has won 10 of the last 11 against the Vikings

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - For the second consecutive weekend, the Milwaukee women's basketball team hosts a weekend series at the Klotsche Center. The Panthers look to extend their unbeaten streak as they welcome Cleveland State to MKE with tipoff for both Friday and Saturday scheduled for 11:00 am. Live audio with Matt Menzl on the call along with a link for live stats can be found on MKEPanthers.com.
 
With no fans permitted across the league for the remainder of the Horizon League season, fans can engage with the Panthers' Virtual Gameday Hub, a page on MKEPanthers.com that houses any and all links fans will need for that gameday experience.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Battling cancellations and schedule changes due to COVID-19, Cleveland State has played just six games in the 2020-21 season. The Vikings picked up a sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne but dropped series at IUPUI and most recently home against Wright State.
 
Mariah White leads the league with 21 points per game and plays some of the most minutes in the Horizon League, averaging 35.9 per contest. The senior has twice as many shots as the next player on the team and is shooting just 38.4 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from the line. Nadia Dumas provides a solid presence inside, averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
 
As a whole, head coach Chris Kielsmeier returns eight letterwinners to go with five true freshmen and a pair of junior transfers for the 2020-21 season.
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Jamie Reit hit a go-ahead three-pointer with a minute left as Milwaukee hung on to beat Cleveland State 61-57 on February 29 for their third win in a row. Four players reached double-digits led by Reit's double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Milwaukee owns a 34-24 all-time advantage over Cleveland State including winning 10 of the last 11 matchups. The Panthers have won eight in a row at home over the Vikings and have not lost in the Klotsche Center to CSU since January 19, 2012.
 
WHATS ON TAP?
The Panthers hit the road to face IUPUI who will be coming off a two-week COVID-19 pause. Both games on January 22-23 are set to tipoff at 5:00 pm CT with live coverage links on MKEPanthers.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Brandi Bisping and Megan Walstad each recorded a double-double as the Panthers dominated the second half for a 64-33 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. Bisping and Walstad combined for 27 points and 22 rebound in the victory.
 
POWERING THROUGH LEAGUE PLAY
Milwaukee earned its fourth straight Horizon League sweep to move to 11-1 overall and 8-0 in league play. The Panthers now own the program's best start in both Horizon League and regular season history.
 
Dating back to last season, MKE has won 10 straight league matchups. The longest winning streak the Panthers have had in Horizon League action dates back to the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. MKE won 12 straight league contests from January 28, 2006 to January 6, 2007.
 
The Panthers' 8-game winning streak since December 6 is the program's longest winning streak since Milwaukee won 12 in a row from January 28 to March 6 of 2006.
 
COLLEGE INSIDER TOP 25 POLL
Milwaukee remained at the No. 10 spot in this week's College Insider Mid-Major poll. The Panthers have the most wins of any program in the top-25 at 11-1.
 
MKE's only loss of the season was to Bowling Green, who is 8-2 this year and ranked No. 21 in the poll. Fellow Horizon League member IUPUI (8-1 overall) checks in at No. 6 in the poll.
 
MAMMOTH MARGINS
With a 20-point victory on Friday and a 31-point win on Saturday, the Panthers have now won the last four games by an average margin of 27.8 points.
 
The last time Milwaukee had two victories of at least 30 points was 2017-18. The Panthers beat North Dakota State by 36 on December 1, 2017 and later that year topped Detroit Mercy by 45 (February 23, 2018).
 
Milwaukee ranks third in the Horizon League with a scoring margin of 19.1 points in league games. In eight conference games, the Panthers have allowed just 44.3 points per game, a league best.
 
DOMINATING DEFENSE
The suffocating defense continued for Milwaukee this past weekend. On Saturday, the Panthers held Purdue Fort Wayne to just 33 points on 10 field goals. The 33 points allowed is second fewest in school history while the 10 field goals match the fewest made by the opponent.
 
The Panthers have now held their opponent under 44 points in five straight contests dating back to December 20. Milwaukee has not had one opponent shoot at least 40 percent from the floor. Robert Morris came the closest at 39.6 percent on December 19.
 
As a whole, MKE's defense has been on another level, ranking top 15 in the nation in three categories.
  • 49.1 PPG allowed - 5th
  • 31.9 FG% - 6th
  • 22.7 3PT FG% - 15th 
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Both Brandi Bisping and Megan Walstad recorded double-doubles in Saturday's victory over PFW becoming the first duo with a double-double in the same game since February 15, 2018. That day, Bisping (10pts/11reb) and Jenny Lindner (18pts/12reb) helped MKE top Youngstown State 86-85 in overtime.
 
Bisping and Walstad have a combined six double-doubles this season. With four, Walstad ranks 33rd in the nation.
 
BANKING ON BISPING
Thanks to an impressive line of 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in the sweep over PFW, Brandi Bisping was named Horizon League Player of the Week. The senior shot 64.3 percent from the floor, 75 percent from three-point range, and 88.9 percent from the line in the win.
 
Bisping and Megan Walstad have both earned a weekly honor this year, marking the first time Panther teammates were recognized in the same year since Jenny Lindner and Steph Kostowicz in 2017-18.
 
CLEANING UP AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
The Panthers had another successful weekend at the free throw line, converting 36 of 43 foul shots (83.7 percent).
 
Milwaukee currently ranks third in the nation with 197 made free throws and fourth in NCAA Division I with a free throw percentage of 82.8. Of teams with at least 100 free throws made, only Iowa State ranks ahead of Milwaukee in percentage (83.6).
 
SENIORS SHOWING OUT
Coming into the 2020-21 season, Milwaukee knew it had a good mix of experience and young talent. The Panthers' five seniors (Brandi Bisping, Bre Cera, Miquela Santoro, McKaela Schmelzer, and Sydney Staver) have shown that experience so far through these 12 games. As a collective, those five are averaging 36.9 points, 16.9, and 14.8 assists per game with each playing at least 21 minutes per contest. Each one has proved to be a major factor with 16 combined double-digit scoring performances so far.
 
SOMETHING TO PROVE
Milwaukee was predicted to finish seventh of 12 in the 2020-21 Horizon League Preseason Poll with 76 poll points. Defending champion IUPUI earned all 12 first place votes as the Jaguars were predicted to repeat.
 
CATCH ALL THE ACTION
Although the Milwaukee Athletic Department announced it will not host spectators for any home men's or women's basketball games until at least January 15, fans will have the opportunity to watch the Panthers all season long. All of Milwaukee's home games will be carried live online at ESPN+. Additional information for road game coverage can be found online.
 
Panther fans will also be able to listen to this year's games everywhere they go, as Matt Menzl calls all the action on the Black & Gold Network. Menzl will be calling the action for all regular season contests as well as all postseason action. The Black & Gold Network is streaming live online and can be accessed at MKEPanthers.com.
 
BLACK & GOLD ON DEMAND
Panther fans can also re-live all of the action by listening to archived games on the Black & Gold Radio Network. All games are chronicled at mixlr.com/milwaukee-panthers/showreel where fans can re-live Matt Menzl's broadcast in its entirety.
 
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Players Mentioned

Brandi Bisping

#13 Brandi Bisping

G
5' 11"
Junior
Bre Cera

#23 Bre Cera

G
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Jamie Reit

#10 Jamie Reit

G
5' 9"
Senior
McKaela Schmelzer

#3 McKaela Schmelzer

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Sydney Staver

#1 Sydney Staver

G
5' 11"
Junior
Megan Walstad

#33 Megan Walstad

F
6' 2"
Sophomore
Miquela Santoro

#10 Miquela Santoro

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Brandi Bisping

#13 Brandi Bisping

5' 11"
Junior
G
Bre Cera

#23 Bre Cera

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
G
Jamie Reit

#10 Jamie Reit

5' 9"
Senior
G
McKaela Schmelzer

#3 McKaela Schmelzer

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
G
Sydney Staver

#1 Sydney Staver

5' 11"
Junior
G
Megan Walstad

#33 Megan Walstad

6' 2"
Sophomore
F
Miquela Santoro

#10 Miquela Santoro

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
G