MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee returns home to the Klotsche Center after a trip to Purdue Fort Wayne last week. The Panthers will welcome the Oakland Golden Grizzlies for an 11:00 a.m. start at the Klotsche Center as MKE celebrates 'School Day' for the 10th time in program history.
 
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, Jan. 16 – Oakland at Milwaukee | Klotsche Center | Milwaukee, Wis. | 11:00 am
 
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
» The Panthers return home for a pair of games beginning on Thursday morning with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies as part of the program's annual 'School Day' contest at 11:00 a.m..
» Milwaukee enters Thursday's matchup off a 12-point loss to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons by a 70-58 margin. Payton Rechlicz led the Panthers with a career-best 19 points, which includes career-highs in field goals (6), three-pointers (2), and free throws (5), while also contributing with a season-best two steals. Kacee Baumhower was also in double figures with 15 points in the loss.
» The Panther defense was up to the task of keeping Purdue Fort Wayne off the three-point line with the Mastodons converting on a season-low four makes from distance throughout the game.
» MKE welcomes Oakland to the Klotsche Center on Wednesday with Oakland entering play this week with a 6-10 overall record and a 4-3 mark in league games. The Grizzlies have lost three in a row coming at the hands of Purdue Fort Wayne (77-37), IU Indy (79-73), and Detroit Mercy (67-59).
» Over the team's three-game skid, Oakland has been outscored by an average of 18 points per game despite shooting 38.3 percent and the defense only giving up 41.9 percent to opponents. The difference has been from three-point land with the Grizzlies making 22.2 percent from three and yielding 36.0 from beyond the arc. Oakland has also been outrebounded by an average of 10 boards per game over the three-game stretch.
» In 26 Division I meetings, Milwaukee holds a 15-11 advantage in games won. The last five seasons of regular season matchups have all been splits, with Oakland winning a postseason game in 2019-20. The last time a team swept the season series was Milwaukee in 2018-19. MKE is 8-6 at the Klotsche Center. The programs met five times prior to their time in Division I, with Oakland going 5-0 in those games for a 16-15 all-time mark against MKE.

LOOKING AT OAKLAND
Deanna Richard officially took over as Interim Head Coach for the Golden Grizzlies on Dec. 9 following the resignation of Jeff Tungate. Since assuming control, Richard has gone 3-4 in her seven games, which includes wins over Robert Morris, Northern Kentucky and Cleveland State. In those wins, the Golden Grizzlies won by a combined six points, while they have taken lopsided losses by an average of 22.25 point difference.

The player to watch for Oakland this season has been Maddy Skorupski, who has scored in double figures in all but three games this season (Michigan, Richmond, Purdue Fort Wayne). After averaging just 8.8 points per game in 18 contests a year ago, Skorupski has taken control since breaking into the starting lineup and averages 17.6 points per game this year after an 8.8 ppg average in 2023-24. Skorupski transferred to Oakland in 2023 after spending her freshman season at Michigan State.

The other name of note for Oakland has been Macy Smith, who is averaging 11.8 points per game and has a team-best 34 makes from three. Lianna Baxter has broken into the starting lineup over the last seven games and has connected on 52.8 percent from the field throughout the season. Dani Grim, like Skorupski and Smith, has also started in all 16 games this season and has a one-assist lead (45) over Skorupski (44) to lead the Grizzlies.

Oakland is only in the top-100 of Division I programs in just one category as the team is 89th in steals per game, averaging 9.6 entering play this week. The Golden Grizzlies are at the bottom of the Horizon League in team defense, allowing 73.2 points per game and have a scoring margin of -10.9 points per game, also lowest in the HL. Oakland is also 11th of 11 teams in rebounding margin at -8.9, while IU Indy is in 10th at -5.3.

The team is currently third in the Horizon League in steals per game (9.6) and fourth in blocks per game (3.1) and are in the middle of the pack with 12.1 assists per contest.

UP NEXT
Milwaukee will continue at home against teams from Michigan, welcoming the Detroit Mercy Titans to the Klotsche Center on Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m. The team will be celebrating Alumni Day and recognizing the alumni in attendance at halftime of Saturday afternoon's contest.

SCHOOL DAY SUCCESS
Milwaukee has played nine 'School Day' games since the inaugural event taking place on Nov. 4, 2013, and have gone 8-1 in their matchups dubbed 'School Day'. The lone loss came in 2013, when the Panthers fell to North Dakota by a 78-66 score.

Since then, the event shifted into the latter half of the schedule and featured Horizon League opponents, with Milwaukee going 8-0 in those games. The most common opponent has been Cleveland State and Robert Morris (twice each), while the Panthers have also played UIC, Youngstown State, Detroit Mercy, and Oakland once each.

This year, Milwaukee will host Oakland on 'School Day' for the first time since Feb. 6, 2015, a 66-60 Panther victory. On average, Milwaukee has outscored opponents on 'School Day' games by an average of 7.1 points per contest.

HIGH SHOOTING PERCENTAGE, WRONG RESULT
Milwaukee shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field in the Jan. 4 loss to Northern Kentucky, the team's highest shooting percentage in a loss this season. It was the team's highest shooting percentage in a loss since last season, when the Panthers also shot 45.8 percent (22-of-48) at home against Oakland on Feb. 24, 2024.

LOW, LOW, LOW
After holding Central Michigan to just 26.2 percent from the field, Milwaukee's defense topped that performance on Jan. 2 against Wright State as the Raiders finished the game shooting 26.0 percent (19-for-73). The mark was the lowest since the Panthers' historic performance against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 29, 2022, where the Titans finished with a .175 shooting percentage (7-for-40).

Wright State also shot 4-of-28 from three, which was also a season-best by the Panther defense as WSU finished at 14.4 percent. Last season, Milwaukee held Robert Morris (Jan. 11) and Cleveland State (Feb. 17) to identical 2-for-19 performances (10.5 percent).

ALL-TIME IN ASSISTS
Kamy Peppler has a total of 349 assists, currently placing her fifth on the all-time list in Panther history. She is currently three 81 behind fourth place, occupied by Angela Rodriguez with 430. The all-time mark in Panther history is held by Pam Bartnik, who finished her career with 469 assists from 1990-94.

PEPPLER'S DOUBLE DOUBLES
Against Carroll, American, and Wright State, Kamy Peppler recorded the first three double-doubles of her career. While double-doubles are common among points and rebounds, Peppler's came with points and assists; 11 points/10 assists vs. Carroll, 14 points/10 assists vs. American, 11 points/11 assists vs. Wright State.

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. With her 11-assist effort against Wright State on Jan. 2, she becomes just the second different player to have a points/assists double-double with more than 10 assists, Pam Bartnik had a 14-point/13-assist double-double in the 1992-93 season, and a 12-point/14-assist double-double on in 1993-94.

Peppler is now tied for second in single-season points/assists double-doubles with Angela Rodriguez, who had three during the 2013-14 season. The record is currently four held by Bartnik during the 1993-94 campaign.

RECENT STRETCH FOR 24
Since Nov. 28, Jada Donaldson had been shooting at a high efficiency, scoring 33-of-66 from the field (50.0 percent) and 17-of-37 from three (45.9 percent).

Overall, this season, Donaldson has made 48-of-108 from the field (44.4 percent) and 24-of-56 from three (42.9 percent).

TOPS IN THE HORIZON
Three Panthers are leading the way in the Horizon League in several statistical categories entering play this weekend. Kamy Peppler leads the HL in both assists (96) and assists per game (5.3), while Anna Lutz is third in the league lead in both blocks (20) and blocks per game (1.1).

Kacee Baumhower is among the league leaders in field goal attempts with 208, field goals made (79), free throws made (55), free throws attempted (68), and points scored (247).

DROUGHT FROM DISTANCE
After starting the season shooting 37.0 (30-for-81) percent from three over the first four games, the Panthers have struggled from distance the last 14 games connecting on just 28.1 percent (89-for-317).

The Panthers have had three halves this season with seven three-point makes including the second half against Robert Morris (Dec. 7), first half against Cleveland State (Dec. 29), and first half against Wright State (Jan. 2).

Milwaukee has been kept off the scoresheet from distance in two halves this season, the second half against Air Force (Nov. 28), and the second half against Youngstown State (Dec. 4).

BALANCING THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES
Overall, this season Milwaukee has been consistent in its shooting by making 40.1 percent (203-for-506) of its shots in the first half and 39.7 percent (190-for-478) in the second half. In overtime, the Panthers are 5-for-21 (23.8 percent).

TEN FOR THREE
After accomplishing the deed of 10 three-point makes in a game just three times in 2023-24, the Panthers have already done so five times in 2024-25. Milwaukee knocked down 10 three against Carroll on Nov. 6, 11 in the Nov. 14 win over Valparaiso, another 10 against Northern Illinois on Nov. 24, 11 at Cleveland State on Dec. 29, and a season-best 13 against Wright State on Jan. 2. The team has reached double-digit threes 68 times since Kyle Rechlicz has taken over as head coach.

DOUBLE-DIGIT GETTERS
This season, Milwaukee has had 39 instances of players scoring double digits in a game including Anna Lutz (11) and Kacee Baumhower (11) leading the team. Kamy Peppler has accomplished double digits in points eight times in 2024-25.

The Panthers have also had double-digit scoring efforts from Jada Donaldson and Jorey Buwalda three times, while Payton Rechlicz has done so twice, and Izzy Pugh reaching double digits once this season.

DONALDSON'S ATR
Jada Donaldson with a 2.50 assist/turnover ratio in 2023-24 finished 17th in Division I in assist/turnover ratio. This season, she has a has a 1.03 assist/turnover ratio and has a career mark of 1.83 assists to turnovers, with 225 assists and 123 turnovers in 121 career games.

Milwaukee is currently fifth in the Horizon League as a team with a 0.82 assist/turnover ratio in 2024-25.

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.

This year Milwaukee is 2-3 in games that Buwalda leads the team in rebounds, falling to Wisconsin, Northern Kentucky, and Purdue Fort Wayne, while defeating both American and Wright State.

SNAPPING THE SKID
With the team's win over Wright State on Jan. 2, the Panthers snapped a losing streak of seven games, which had been its longest stretch of losses since an eight-game skid in 2010-11 between Dec. 4 and Jan. 6.

The last time Milwaukee had a losing streak of at least five games in a row in a single season came in 2021-22, when the team lost five in a row between Jan. 29 and Feb. 12. Milwaukee finished the 2020-21 campaign with a 20-8 record and reached the second round of the WNIT after reaching the Horizon League semifinals.

PUTTING UP THE POINTS
Kacee Baumhower has been putting up large point totals for the Panthers with 20+ point performances in five contests this season.

The last player to have at least five 20+ point scoring performances in a season was Kendall Nead in 2023-24, finishing the season with six. Kamy Peppler also had five 20+ point games, while Anna Lutz had four for the Panthers a year ago.

The last time a Panther had at least seven games of 20+ points in a game came back in 2016-17, when Milwaukee had both Jenny Lindner (eight times), and Steph Kostowicz (seven times) both reached 20+ points in a game seven-plus times that season.

STRONG 'D' EFFORTS DON'T ALWAYS LEAD TO 'W'S
For just the second time since the 2008-09 season, Milwaukee lost a game in which it held an opponent under 30 percent from the field. On Dec. 22 against Central Michigan, the Chippewas connected on 26.2 percent (16-of-61) from the field and won 54-50.

The last time that a Panther team lost when holding a team under 30 percent from the field was against Northwestern, 55-46, the Wildcats shot 26.2 percent (16-of-61). The previous occurrence took place in 2008-09, when Cleveland State won 53-45, when shooting 29.3 percent (17-of-58).

IN OVERTIME
With the team's three overtime losses this season, Milwaukee is now 21-26 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 now happened seven times including the 2024-25 season, the previous occurrence took place in 2008-09.

FREQUENT FLIER MILES
Since Milwaukee played three consecutive games at home from Nov. 6 through Nov. 14, the Panthers have played nine of its next 11 games away from home. In total the team will travel 9,123 miles beginning with the team's trip to Madison to take on Wisconsin on Nov. 17 and wrapping up with the team's trip to the Wolstein Center in Cleveland against Cleveland State on Dec. 29.

By comparison, the Panthers will travel an estimated approximately 2,978 miles the rest of the season, which includes trips to Purdue Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky, Wright State, IU Indy, Detroit Mercy, Oakland, and Green Bay.

NEW FACES
In the Dec. 22 game against Central Michigan the Panthers competed in its seventh consecutive game against a program that has less than three seasons experience at their respective institutions. The Panthers played against Stacy McIntyre of Air Force, Melissa Jackson of Youngstown State, Chandler McCabe at Robert Morris, Kayla Karius at Green Bay, and Cara Consuegra at Marquette. Tiffany Coll of American is in her third season, while Kristin Haynie of Central Michigan is in her second season at the helm of the Chippewas.

The last time Milwaukee played against a coach with at least three full seasons of head coaching experience before Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier on Dec. 29 was Lisa Carlsen, who is in her 10th season Northern Illinois on Nov. 24.

PUGH IN HER STARTING DEBUT
Izzy Pugh made her first career start on Dec. 11 vs. Green Bay and after some early foul trouble put together career-best performance with seven rebounds on the night and had a monster fourth quarter with all four of her blocks against the Phoenix coming in the final 10 minutes.

The four blocks in one game were one shy of tying the freshman record for blocks in a game, set back during the 2005-06 season. Katie Fournier had five in a 67-44 win over Youngstown State on Feb. 18 of that season.

100s FOR THREE
Earlier this season, Kamy Peppler recorded the 100th three-pointer of her career with her second three-point make of three against Carroll on Nov. 6. Kacee Baumhower also scored her 100th career three-point make against Kansas State on Nov. 20.

FREE THROW FRENZY
Against Valparaiso on Nov. 14, the Panthers took 37 trips to the free throw line and converted 29.

It was the first time that Milwaukee made 29 free throws in a game since Dec. 30, 2006, when they made 29 against UIC at the Klotsche Center. It was the first time the Panthers took 37 free throw attempts in a game since the team also had 37 against Columbia at home on Nov. 16, 2018.

NINETY IN NON-OVERTIME
On Nov. 14 against Valparaiso, Milwaukee put 90 points on the scoreboard, which was the first time that the team had scored 90 points against a Division I opponent since last season's overtime win against Wright State on Jan. 26 (93-87).

The last time the Panthers scored 90 points in a regulation game against a Division I opponent was on Feb. 23, 2018, in a 90-45 win at home against Detroit Mercy.

VERSUS NO. 10
Milwaukee took on No. 10 Kansas State on Nov. 20 and fell to its host by a 111-46 score. It was the first time that the Panthers allowed 100 points since the 114-104 double overtime loss to Northern Illinois on Nov. 16, 2016, a span of 252 games.

K-State ended the game shooting exactly 60.0 percent from the field, which was the first time an opponent ended a game with at least 60.0 percent since the Panthers played at Green Bay on Jan. 13, 2007. The loss was Milwaukee's first by 50 or more points in 844 games, when the team lost to Northern Illinois on March 2, 1996, as the Panthers fell by a 117-52 score to the Huskies.

The Panthers are now 1-39 against ranked opponents, including an 0-9 mark against teams that are ranked in the top-10 in either the Associate Press Poll or the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.

250 GAMES FOR MENZL
Following his broadcast of the Nov. 14 matchup against Valparaiso, Matt Menzl has now broadcasted 250 Milwaukee Panther women's basketball games. He began his play-by-play duties with the team in 2016-17.

GREEN GETS THE CALL
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.

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 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.

FINDING WINS IN THE PAINT
In 2023-24, when Milwaukee scored more than 25 points in the paint the Panthers had a 12-7 record, while the team was 4-11 when scoring fewer than 25 points in the paint.

This year, the Panthers are 3-5 thus far on the season when scoring 25 or more points in the paint, narrowly reaching that plateau with 26 in the team's Nov. 14 win over Valparaiso. Milwaukee is 1-9 when scoring fewer than 25 points in the paint, with a season-low 11 against Green Bay on Dec. 11. The Panthers picked up the win over Wright State on Jan. 2 while scoring 24 points in the paint.

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 112-41 (.732) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 96-22 (.813).

When shooting under 40 percent, Milwaukee is 26-87 (.230).

KEEPING THE FOULS DOWN
Since the 2022-23 season, when Milwaukee has committed 11 fouls or fewer, the Panthers are 11-2. On the contrary, the Panthers are 8-26 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 31 of their 65 games and scored 613 second-chance points. Last season, the Panthers had a season-best 20 offensive rebounds 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 491 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 183 to the all-time total.

YEAR 13 FOR RECHLICZ
Milwaukee is led by Kyle Rechlicz, who enters year 13 as the head coach of the Panthers and is the Horizon League's most veteran coach with the retirement of Green Bay's Kevin Borseth earlier this summer. Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier is second in the league beginning his tenure in 2018-19 (7th season in 2024-25).

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. 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.

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.