MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Behind a 22-point third quarter and solid second-half defensive effort, the Milwaukee women's basketball team moved to 2-0 in Horizon League play with a 61-49 win over Northern Kentucky.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of our team," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "For the first time this season, I felt like we made some really great second half adjustments especially how we were defending certain people on the floor. Our team really locked into that, and we haven't been able to do that this season so to see that start translating, to see our team start clicking, I'm just really proud of our performance."
 
Trailing 28-27 after two quarters, the Panthers (2-3, 2-0 Horizon League) made adjustments and came out of the break hot with Sydney Staver and McKaela Schmelzer knocking down back-to-back threes for a three-point advantage.
 
The Norse (2-2, 1-1 HL) pulled within two at 35-33 but Megan Walstad and Kendall Nead scored five points apiece to fuel a 12-2 run over the next 5:18 to put MKE in control at 47-34.
 
In the fourth, Northern Kentucky made a run to close the gap to five, but three straight scores from Staver pushed the Panthers' lead to 57-46 with 4:12 to play.
 
The Norse responded with a three-pointer, but Jada Donaldson converted a layup and Staver added a score off an offensive board to ice the game.
 
It was Schmelzer who carried the Panthers in the first half, scoring 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting. The Norse took advantage inside and scored 22 of their 28 points in the paint for the halftime lead.
 
"McKaela is playing some really excellent basketball right now," Rechlicz continued. "We needed to get her touches. We needed to force them to defend her a little bit differently. I'm really excited with the way that she is playing."
 
Milwaukee was plagued with fouls all game long, committing 19 to Northern Kentucky's eight, but it was the Panthers' rebounding that made the difference.
 
MKE dominated the glass 36-21 and scored 15 second-chance points in the win.
 
The Panthers had four players reach double figures for the third game this year, with Schmelzer and Staver each totaling 15 to lead the way.
 
Walstad recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 12 rebounds while adding two blocks and an assist.
 
Nead provided a nice spark off the bench with 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting, hitting a pair of three-pointers.
 
Milwaukee will next welcome Wisconsin to the Klotsche Center for a 6:00 pm tipoff on Wednesday, November 24.
 
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