MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee will welcome Valparaiso to the Klotsche Center for the last game of a three-game homestand. The Panthers and Beacons are set to meet for the first time since 2017, with game time set for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
 
Game coverage will be available online on ESPN+, while Milwaukee's audio stream will also be available on the All New Black & Gold Network, as Matt Menzl returns for his ninth season with the program. Fans can also find the audio stream on the 'Varsity Network' App (available in the App Store & Google Play). All links, including live stats can be found on MKEPanthers.com.
 
THE MATCHUP
Thursday, Nov. 14 – Valparaiso at Milwaukee | Klotsche Center | Milwaukee, Wis. | 6:00 pm
 
QUICK LINKS
Tickets: mkepanthers.com/tickets
Watch on ESPN+: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Listen on Black & Gold Network: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Listen on Varsity Network: App Store & Google Play
Live Stats: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Follow Along (On X): @MKE_WBB
 
QUICK NOTES
» After an overtime loss to Butler on Saturday, Milwaukee returns home to the Klotsche Center for the last of a three-game homestand looking to come out on top against the Valparaiso Beacons on Thursday evening.
» Against the Bulldogs of Butler, the Panthers had a seven-point lead to open the fourth quarter, which evaporated into a six-point deficit. Milwaukee was able to tie the game at 66 on a three-point shot by Kamy Peppler. However, the Panthers were unable to take a lead in overtime as the Bulldogs won by nine at 79-70.
» Kacee Baumhower led the Panthers in scoring with 24 points against Butler while Anna Lutz added 17 and had a team-high eight rebounds. Peppler poured in 10 points and led Milwaukee with seven assists and three steals.
» As a team, the Panthers shot 45.5 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three, while the Bulldogs shot better than 50 percent at 27-of-53 overall on the afternoon. Butler was also +10 in rebounding at 36-26.
» Milwaukee welcomes an old friend back to the Klotsche Center, as the Panthers will host Valparaiso at for the first time since February 20, 2017, a game the Panthers won, 80-64. Milwaukee has won the last five all-time meetings with Valpo and boast an 11-4 record at home.
» The Panthers have two five-game winning streaks in their 28 all-time meetings against the Beacons, a win on Thursday will give the team its longest-ever winning streak against their foes from Indiana.
» Valparaiso enters off an 81-40 drubbing over Trinity Christian, a game that saw three players score in double figures for the Beacons including a game-high 20 points from Kayla Preston off the bench.
» All Milwaukee home games, and all Horizon League matchups will be available on ESPN+, with all remaining games this season available on the All New Black & Gold Network. Audio coverage will also be available on the Varsity Network app and searching 'Milwaukee' in the search bar, The Varsity Network app is available in both the Apple Store & Google Play.

LOOKING AT VALPARAISO
Valparaiso heads on the road for its first true road game of the season with a 1-2 overall record. The Beacons fell to Liberty in a neutral site season opener, before dropping a home game to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday. Valpo backed it up with its first win of the season with an 81-40 win over Trinity Christian of the NAIA level.

The Beacons have improved every game thus far on the season with 14 field goal makes in the opener, followed by 21 against PFW and 29 in their last game against Trinity Christian. Valpo also connected on a season-best 11 three-pointers, and pulled down a season-best 43 rebounds, while also setting season-best marks in assists (25), blocks (2), and steals (11), while limiting turnovers to a season-low 11 on Tuesday.

Mary Evans is in her seventh season as the head coach of the team and has been at the helm since the team's second season of Missouri Valley play. Prior to joining the MVC, Valparaiso spent a decade in the Horizon League from 2007-17. Evans took over in 2018 and has won 61 games over that span including a career-best 17 wins in 2019-20.

Three Beacons have three players that are averaging double figures this season including team leader Nevaeh Jackson, who has scored 14 points a game. Leah Earnest (13.0) and Kayla Preston (10.0) are also in double figures, while Earnest is leading the team with seven rebounds per game. Fiona Connolly has started in all three games and is the team leader with 10 assists.

UP NEXT
Milwaukee will head on the road for a pair of power conference opponents, on Nov. 17 Milwaukee will renew their in-state rivalry with Wisconsin at the Kohl Center at 2:00 p.m. Following the 27th all-time meeting with the Badgers, the Panthers will square off with nationally ranked Kansas State for the first time ever. Coverage of both games will be available on the Black & Gold Network.

IN OVERTIME
With the team's two overtime losses this season, Milwaukee is now 21-25 in all-time overtime games since joining the Division I level prior to the 1990-91 season.

The Panthers have gone to overtime on three occasions in season openers, winning 84-77 over Parkside in 2019-20, and falling to Ball State by an 84-75 score to begin the 2021-22 campaign.

This season is the 13th time in program history that the Panthers have had multiple overtime games in one season, most recently during the 2020-21 season. The most overtime games played by Milwaukee in one season is three, which has happened six times, most recently in 2008-09.

250 GAMES FOR MENZL
Thursday's game broadcast against Valparaiso will be the 250th for Matt Menzl with the Milwaukee women's basketball program. Menzl took over full-time play-by-play responsibilities prior to the 2016-17 season.

TOP-15 IN THE EARLY GOING
It's early in the season but Kamy Peppler has already tallied 22 assists through the first game, which places her fourth in Division I in total assists. Peppler is averaging 7.3 helpers per game, which also places her ninth in the nation entering Wednesday this week. Kayla Ivey of Boston College leads the nation with 29 assists for an average of 9.7 per game.

The beneficiary of many of Peppler's assists has been Kacee Baumhower, who is currently 11th in the country in points scored with 64 already through the first three games. Her point total is second to Mickayla Perdue of Cleveland State, who has score 76, while the national leader is Destiny Adams of Rutgers with 80 points.

GREEN GETS THE CALL
Earlier this week, Milwaukee Athletics announced its Bud K. Haidet Hall of Fame Class for 2024. The list included Milwaukee basketball's Ashley Green, who played for the Panthers from 2011-15.

She finished her career with 1,653 points, which is currently fifth on the all-time scoring list. She is also one of just five Panthers in program history to finish their career with 1,000+ points and 500+ rebounds, finishing with 781 in her 119 career games. Green finished her career with 17 double-doubles, the eighth most in program history.

FRESHMEN POSTS TAKING THE LEAD
Through the team's first three games in 2023-24, Milwaukee has seen strong efforts put forth by their redshirt-freshman post players as Izzy Pugh and Payton Rechlicz have shot a combined 16-for-24 (66.7 percent) to begin their collegiate careers.

PEPPLER'S RARE FEAT
In the team's Nov. 6 win over Carroll, Kamy Peppler recorded the first double-double of her career. While double-doubles are common among points and rebounds, Peppler's came with points and assist, ending the game with 11 and 10, respectively.

It was the first time that a Panther had a points-assists double-double since Jaleesa Armstrong had 23 points and 10 assists at Detroit Mercy on Jan. 7, 2015. Peppler also becomes the sixth different player to record a points-assist double-double, accompanying Armstrong, Pam Bartnik, Jen Greger, Angela Rodriguez, and Kiki Wilson.

Bartnik accomplished the feat five times, while Rodriguez did it four times. Armstrong, Greger, Wilson, and Peppler have done it once.

TEN FOR THREE
Milwaukee knocked down 10 three-pointers in its home opener against Carroll on Nov. 6, something the team accomplished three times in 2023-24. It's also the 63rd time a Panther team has knocked down at least 10 three-pointers under the watch of Kyle Rechlicz.

It was the first time the Panther connected on exactly 10 three-pointers since March 2, 2021, at home against Youngstown State.

SPREADING THE LOVE
All 12 players to step on the court for Milwaukee scored in the home opener against Carroll, becoming the first time that it's happened since last season's home game against Cleveland State, when all nine scored against the Vikings on that day.

It's the first game that the Panthers had at least 10 players in a game score since the team's win over Viterbo in December of 2023, when 12 different players scored for MKE.

KACEE'S SEASON-OPENER
Making her Milwaukee Panther debut, Kacee Baumhower scored 26 points against St. Thomas, including 19 of those points after halftime. The 26 points were the most in a season opener for a Panther since Jamie Reit had 31 points at the Klotsche Center against Parkside to open the 2019-20 season. Baumhower's previous career high was 23, as a member of Wright State against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 13, 2023.

SEASON-OPENING PERFORMANCES
Four Panthers scored in double figures during the season opener on Nov. 4 at St. Thomas, including Kacee Baumhower (26), Anna Lutz (15), Kamy Peppler (14), and Payton Rechlicz (13). It was the first time that at least four Panthers reached at least 10 points each in a season opener since 2021, when Milwaukee had Megan Walstad (15), Sydney Staver (14), McKaela Schmelzer (12), and Macy McGlone (10) pick up big point totals in overtime at Ball State.

The three three-pointers for Peppler were most in a season opener since Angie Cera had four at home against Wisconsin on Nov. 7, 2022. While Lutz' double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds was the first in a season opener since Brandi Bisping had 17 points and 10 rebounds against Parkside on Nov. 6, 2019.

50 BOARDS
After coming within five rebounds on three occasions in 2023-24, including a season-best 49 against Wright State on Jan. 26, the team posted 50 rebounds in the 2024-25 season opener against St. Thomas. It was the first time Milwaukee had 50 rebounds in a game since the team had 56 in a neutral site matchup against Boise State on Nov. 27, 2022.

SCHEDULE SUMMARY
Milwaukee will have 11 non-conference games this season which includes the season opener against St. Thomas on Nov. 4. The team will have its home opener against the first of three first-time opponents with Carroll on Nov. 6.

The Panthers will play former Horizon foes Butler (Nov. 9) and Valparaiso (Nov. 14) at home before traveling to Wisconsin for their 28th all-time meeting against the Badgers. The toughest opponent on the slate will be Kansas State, ranked 13th in the WBCA Preseason Coaches Poll, on Nov. 20, before a home matchup against Northern Illinois on Nov. 24.

A pair in Puerto Rico will follow with first-time opponent American on Nov. 27, before the Panthers will take on Air Force a day later, looking to stay unblemished (2-0) against the Falcons. After a year hiatus, Milwaukee will visit Marquette on Dec. 15 at the Al McGuire Center, before wrapping up the out-of-league slate at Central Michigan on Dec. 22.

Horizon League play will begin at Youngstown State on Dec. 4, with the first home league game coming against Green Bay on Dec. 11. The annual 'School Day' game will come against Oakland on Jan. 16, while the team will celebrate 'Senior Day' against YSU on Feb. 8. The regular season comes to a close at home against Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 27.

YEAR 13 FOR RECHLICZ
Milwaukee is led by Kyle Rechlicz, who enters year 13 as the head coach of the Panthers. The 2016 Horizon League Coach of the Year has coached 11 All-Horizon League selections during her time at the helm, while also coaching four All-Defensive Team honorees and five All-Freshman Team selections.

Rechlicz became the Horizon League's most veteran coach with the retirement of Green Bay's Kevin Borseth earlier this summer. Jeff Tungate of Oakland is second in the league, having started in 2013-14, while Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier began his tenure in 2018-19. There will be four new coaches in the Horizon League this season including Jeff Hans (Northern Kentucky), Melissa Jackson (Cleveland State), Kayla Karius (Green Bay), and Chandler McCabe (Robert Morris).

THE COACHING STAFF
Returning for year seven with the Panthers will be Associate Head Coach Stacy Cantley, who was promoted to that role in June 2021 after three seasons as an assistant coach.

Four new faces join the Milwaukee staff including Cassie Lastivka (previously an assistant coach at Ohio Northern), Fletcher Brown (previously the head coach at Chandler Gilbert CC in Arizona), Malika Glover (formerly an assistant coach at Youngstown State), and Anthony Houston (most recently on the men's basketball staff at Bryant & Stratton College).

RETURNING HONOREE
Milwaukee returns one student-athlete that received postseason honors by the Horizon League in 2023-24 as sophomore Jorey Buwalda was named to the All-Freshman team as a rookie. Buwalda appeared in all 32 games for Milwaukee as a freshman, including seven starts, and was just shy of 600 minutes played.

Statistically, Buwalda averaged 7.7 points per game, while connecting on 48.2 percent from the floor, and had an impressive 82.6 percent from the free throw line. She also averaged 5.5 rebounds per game and was second on the team with 11 blocks a year ago, while also contributing to the defensive effort with 24 steals.

SHE LIT IT UP, BURNED IT DOWN, AND EARNED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Last season, the Panthers closed the regular season with an upset of the then-top-seeded Green Bay by a 65-61 score at the Kress Center on March 2, led by a career-best 25 points from Kamy Peppler.

The loss prevented Green Bay from clinching a regular season title and was the first time that Green Bay lost their last home game of the regular season since the 1997-98 season, when Milwaukee knocked off the Phoenix 58-41 on Feb. 21 of that season.

Following her 25-point effort, Peppler was named Horizon League Player of the Week for the first time in her career, following a pair of Freshman of the Week Awards and a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2022-23.

MISSED IT BY ONE
In 2023-24, Milwaukee finished the season with 516 assists, one shy of tying the Division I record set back in 2005-06, when that year's team finished with 517 assists. The team's all-time mark is 520 assists set during the 1988-89 campaign, when the team at the NAIA level.

The Panthers had a season-best 27 assists in the team's win over McNeese on Nov. 17, 2023, which was the most in a single game since the program had 31 in a double overtime game against Bradley in Dec. 2012. The last time Milwaukee had at least 27 assists in a regulation game came back in 2000, when the Panthers had 28 against Central Michigan in December of that year.

NINTH IN THE NATION
Milwaukee finished the 2023-24 season ninth in all of Division I in free throw percentage of the 349 programs at the NCAA's highest level. The Panthers finished the season 78.8 percent from the line, which includes returners Jada Donaldson (88.5), Anna Lutz (82.9), and Jorey Buwalda (82.6) all boosting the team average. The Panthers also brought in Kacee Baumhower, who led the Horizon League in free throw percentage in 2023-24 at 83.5 percent among those that qualified.

DONALDSON'S ATR
Last season, Jada Donaldson finished the season with a 2.50 assist/turnover ratio, which was second in the Horizon League and tied for 17th in all of Division I with Paige Bueckers of UConn. That number was well above her career average of 2.13 assists to turnovers, with 204 assists and 96 turnovers in 105 career games.

Milwaukee as a team ended the year with a 0.97 assist/turnover ratio (516 assists/533 turnovers), which was third-best in the Horizon League and 94th in the nation. Green Bay led the nation with a 1.74 assist/turnover ratio.

KEEP IT CLASSY
Kamy Peppler set a pair of records for Panther sophomores as she tied Steph Kostowicz and Jenny Lindner for most starts as a sophomore with 31. She also set the sophomore record for assists with 153, which was second-most on the overall single-season record, trailing Angela Rodriguez, who had 168 in 2013-14.

Peppler also became the first player to record at least 100 assists in back-to-back seasons since Rodriguez had 168 in 2013-14, following her 114 assists in 2012-13.

Jorey Buwalda finished second on the freshman list with 32 games played, third with 176 rebounds, fourth with 5.5 rebounds per game, fifth in field goal percentage at .482, and third in free throw percentage connecting on 82.6 percent from the line.

BUWALDA BOARDS LED TO WINS
The Panthers finished the 2023-24 season with an 8-2 record in games when Jorey Buwalda was Milwaukee's leader in rebounding. She recorded double-digits in rebounds in four games this past season with the Panthers scoring wins in all four of those matchups.

TOPS IN MINUTES
Last season, Milwaukee had four players finish the season in the top-25 in minutes played, including Jada Donaldson (32.9) and Kamy Peppler (32.4), who finished fifth and seventh respectively. Despite graduating both Kendall Nead (13th, 31.0) and Angie Cera (24th, 28.9), the Panthers added another top minutes-getter in the Horizon League last season as Kacee Baumhower finished sixth in the league at 32.5 per game.

Through the first handful of games this year, Kacee Baumhower leads the league at 35.3 minutes per game, while Kamy Peppler is third at 34.0 minutes per contest. Jada Donaldson at 32.7 and Anna Lutz at 31.3 minutes per game are also in the top-10 within the Horizon League.

FINDING WINS IN THE PAINT
Last season, when Milwaukee scored more than 25 points in the paint the Panthers had a 12-6 record, while the team was 4-10 when scoring fewer than 25 points in the paint.

This year, the Panthers scored 44 points in their season-opening loss to St. Thomas on Nov. 4., then answered back with 36 points in the paint in the Nov. 6 win over Carroll. Milwaukee scored another 32 points in the paint against Butler, but fell to the Bulldogs in overtime.

MAGIC NUMBER
In college basketball, there is no perfect recipe for a win but for Milwaukee, field goal percentage has been a pretty good baseline. Since 2016-17, Milwaukee is 109-39 (.736) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 93-21 (.816).

When shooting under 40 percent, Milwaukee is 26-77 (.252).

KEEPING THE FOULS DOWN
Since the 2022-23 season, when Milwaukee has committed 11 fouls or fewer, the Panthers are 11-1. On the contrary, the Panthers are 7-21 when they have committed 18 or more fouls in a contest.

OFFENSIVE BOARDS TURNING INTO POINTS
Dating back to the 2022-23 season, the Panthers have pulled down double-digits in offensive rebounds in 27 of their last 53 games and scored 520 second-chance points. Last season, the Panthers had a season-best 20 against Viterbo and eclipsed that mark with 21 in the team's Nov. 4 matchup to open the 2024-25 season at St. Thomas.

CLOSING IN ON 500
Milwaukee currently has with 488 wins at the Division I level, dating back to its inaugural DI season in 1990-91. MA Kelling led the team with 57 wins over the first five year, while Jenny Sell won four games in 1995-96. Sandy Botham had 245 wins, while current head coach Kyle Rechlicz has added 182 to the all-time total.

CHECK THAT DIAL
This season, Milwaukee has made the move to one of the leading audio providers in all of college sports with their audio-only streams now available online directly through the team's home website MKEPanthers.com, as well as on The Varsity Network. Fans can download 'Varsity Network' in the App Store on iOS devices and Google Play and search "Milwaukee" to find the live audio stream of Panther games.