MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Defense was stellar for the Milwaukee women's basketball team on Thursday night, holding Detroit Mercy to a program record 17.5 percent shooting in a 63-29 rout at the Klotsche Center.
 
The Panthers (4-7, 2-1 Horizon League) set new NCAA Division I program records in points allowed (29), opponent field goal percentage (17.5 percent), and fewest field goals allowed (7) in the victory.
 
It marks the fewest points allowed since Valparaiso scored 31 on February 25, 2012 and the lowest field goal percentage since Youngstown State on March 6, 2010 (19.4 percent).
 
"I'm really proud of the effort that we gave today," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "Our defense was fantastic especially in that first half. I thought Grace Crowley stepped up and gave us some great baskets. Great performances off the bench. It was just an all-around team effort with 22 assists on 25 made baskets."
 
Milwaukee's 22 assists set a new season high.
 
On the offensive end, Grace Crowley led five players in double figures with 13 points. Kendall Nead (12 points), Anna Lutz (11), Kamy Peppler (10), and Emma Wittmershaus (10) also reached double digits.
 
The Panthers could not have asked for a better start to the game, scoring the first 12 points and rolling out to an 18-8 lead after one quarter.
 
After another run to start the second, the defense stood out. Milwaukee held Detroit Mercy (2-10, 0-3 Horizon League) without a field goal the final 6:16 of the first half as the lead ballooned to 22 points at the break.
 
The run continued in the third quarter as the Panthers shut out the Titans until the 1:41 mark, a span of zero points across 14 minutes and 35 seconds.
 
MKE continued to pour it on as Nead scored nine points in the second quarter alone and five different Panthers scored in the third to make it 46-17 through 30 minutes.
 
Detroit got to the free throw line 12 times in the fourth, but the damage was done as Milwaukee kept its distance in a 34-point blowout.
   
Crowley added four rebounds and two assists while Nead chipped in three boards, an assist, and three steals.
 
Megan Walstad led with eight rebounds and five assists and added three points.
 
The bench was big in the win, accounting for 25 points including Lutz's 11 and Peppler's 10.
 
Milwaukee will next close 2022 on Saturday with a 2:00 pm tipoff against Oakland at the Klotsche Center.
 
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