MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Following a 20-win season which led to a trip to the postseason WNIT, the Milwaukee women's basketball team was selected to finish second in the Horizon League, announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Megan Walstad was named to the Preseason All-League First Team.
 
Voted on by league coaches, the Panthers received 125 total poll points, trailing only IUPUI who earned 139 total poll points and 11 of 12 first-place votes.
 
Milwaukee brings back a core trio of graduate students in Miquela Santoro, McKaela Schmelzer, and Sydney Staver paired with a strong, experienced roster of 13 total returners.
 
After being sidelined in 2019-20, Walstad returned to the floor and dominated down low as she was named First Team All-League last season. The redshirt sophomore led the team in scoring (12.0 points per game) field goal percentage (50.0) and blocks (50) while ranking second in rebounds (8.7 per game).
 
Three-time Horizon League Player of the Year Macee Williams (IUPUI) was once again named Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on first team by Rachel McLimore (IUPUI), Lindsey Duvall (Northern Kentucky), Kahlaijah Dean (Oakland), and Walstad.
 
Behind IUPUI and Milwaukee, Green Bay earned 120 total poll points and the final first-place vote as it was predicted to finish third. Northern Kentucky (107 poll points) and Oakland (96) round out the top five.
 
The Horizon League schedule begins early with games on Thursday, November 18 and two weeks later, picks up again on December 2. Milwaukee will host Wright State (Nov. 18) and Northern Kentucky (Nov. 20) to open the league year.
 
Tickets for the upcoming season can be found by going to MKEPanthers.com/Tickets or by calling (414) 229-5886. Additional details including live coverage links will be released at a later date.Kelly
 
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