MILWAUKEE, Wis. –
Megan Walstad and
Brandi Bisping of the Milwaukee women's basketball team both pulled in Horizon League recognition, announced by the league office on Tuesday morning. Walstad was named First Team All-League and All-Defensive Team while Bisping earned a Second Team All-League nod.
After being sidelined in 2019-20, Walstad returned to the floor this season and dominated down low. The redshirt sophomore led the team in scoring (12.7 points per game), rebounding (8.8 rebounds per game), and field goal percentage (52.0). Additionally, Walstad was a defensive force in the paint, leading the team and league with 44 blocks. That stat also ranked her 22nd in the nation.
Walstad was consistently ranked among the league's best in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, and blocked shots throughout the year. The Apple Valley, Minn. Native earned three Horizon League Player of the Week awards, matching IUPUI's Macee Williams for most this season. She was a big factor for the Panthers' defense which ranks top 20 in the nation in opponents scoring (19
th, 55.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (16th, 35.1 FG%).
Walstad's First Team selection is the first for the Panthers since Steph Kostowicz in 2015-16 and the All-Defensive honor is the first since
Ryaen Johnson earned the distinction in 2018-19.
Bisping once again put together a career year, setting new highs in points (11.5), rebounds (8.6), and assists (2.1) per game. The senior ranks 11th in the Horizon League in scoring, third in rebounding, and first in free throw percentage (92.9). Bisping has been among the nation's best in free throw shooting all season, ranking fourth in free throw percentage and 27th in makes (91) while leading the team to NCAA Division I's best percentage this season (83.3).
Earlier this season, Bisping hauled in her 500th career rebound, becoming just the 27th player in progam history to reach that mark.
The award is Bisping's second All-League honor after being named Third Team a season ago. This year, she has earned one Horizon League Player of the Week Honor and a pair of College Sports Madness High-Major Conference Player of the Week awards.
Walstad, Bisping, and the rest of the Panthers earned a share of the Horizon League regular season and next gear up for the Horizon League Championships. With the No. 2 seed, Milwaukee will face the second lowest-remaining seed after the First Round. That quarterfinals matchup will on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:00 pm from the Klotsche Center.
