MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Four players reached double figures as the Milwaukee women's basketball team outscored Purdue Fort Wayne 41-31 in the second half for a 68-56 victory on Friday night.
 
"I really liked our offensive adjustments," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "We talked through passing to the post. We got Megan [Walstad] more touches and got her to the free throw line. I thought our aggressiveness was really good."
 
The Panthers finished 22-for-25 from the free throw line including 10-for-10 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
 
"I was really proud of how we got to the free throw line," Rechlicz continued. "We haven't been to the free throw line like that in a while. And then we just had such balanced scoring attack. Especially down the stretch. It was an overall really good game for us."
 
McKaela Schmelzer (12 points), Sydney Staver (11), Megan Walstad (11), and Emma Wittmershaus (10) all reached double figures in the win.
 
It was a tough start for both teams in the first half as neither eclipsed 40 percent from the floor. Milwaukee got out to the early lead behind a pair of Staver three-pointers, but PFW responded with a few triples of their own to cut it to one.
 
MKE (6-9, 5-3 Horizon League) opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run, but the Mastodons quickly answered with a burst of their own for a 21-19 lead with just under four minutes to play in the half. The two teams traded baskets back and forth before Angie Cera knocked down a jumper to make it 27-25 Milwaukee at the break.
 
The Panthers made adjustments at the half and got touches inside, leading to six straight free throws to give MKE a double-digit lead at 41-31. The Mastodons fought back to within six, but a Walstad bucket and a Cera free throw had Milwaukee in control.
 
In the fourth, the Panthers took advantage of early Purdue Fort Wayne (3-11, 2-5 Horizon League) fouls and got to the line 10 times, hitting all 10 attempts.
 
With 4:26 remaining, Crowley found a seam on a fast break and converted an and-one to put MKE in front 60-46 and the Panthers kept their distance from there.
 
Walstad added a team-high eight points and three blocks to go with her 11 points. Schmelzer totaled five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
 
Milwaukee next hosts Cleveland State this Sunday, January 16 at 2:00 pm.
 
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