MILWAUKEE – On Saturday, Milwaukee will welcome the Detroit Mercy Titans to the Klotsche Center for a 2:00 p.m. start to wrap up the weekend against its Michigan-based foes. The Panthers will also be celebrating Alumni Day and welcoming back and celebrating former student-athletes and coaches for their contributions to the program.

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
Saturday, Jan. 18 – Detroit Mercy at Milwaukee | Klotsche Center | Milwaukee, Wis. | 2:00 pm
 
QUICK LINKS
Promotions: Alumni Day
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 hosting Oakland on Thursday, Milwaukee shifts the focus to Detroit Mercy, who visits the Klotsche Center on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
» The Panthers dropped a 75-72 overtime decision to Oakland on Thursday despite a 30-point performance from Anna Lutz. Lutz finished the game with 13 makes from the field including four three-pointers, going 4-for-4 from deep to start the day.
» The difference in Thursday's matchup was three-point shooting as Oakland finished the game with 10 makes from distance, the most allowed by MKE this season. The last time Milwaukee allowed at least 10 three pointers was when Purdue Fort Wayne made 12 on Feb. 15, 2024.
» With the overtime loss, Milwaukee is now 0-4 in overtime contests this season. The four overtime games was the most in a single season in the program's Division I history. The previous mark was three on six occasions (2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 1999-2000, and 1996-97).
» Detroit Mercy enters off a 70-47 loss to Green Bay on Thursday evening. The Titans were led by Emaia O'Brien with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, as she and three others led the team with four rebounds.
» Detroit Mercy is off to an 11-5 start overall and a 5-3 start in league games. It's the team's best start in Horizon League games since 2016-17, when the Titans starts 6-2 and extended that record to 10-3 before finishing the conference slate at 12-6 that season.
» After splitting last season with the home team winning each bout, Milwaukee holds a 38-29 advantage in Division I history against the Titans including a 20-12 mark in games at the Klotsche Center. The loss in Detroit on Jan. 20, 2024, was the first loss for MKE against DET since Feb. 2, 2017, a streak of 12 wins for the Panthers.

LOOKING AT DETROIT MERCY
Detroit Mercy currently boasts an 11-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in Horizon League games, its best start in league games since 2016-17. The Titans are coming off a 23-point loss at Green Bay, 70-47 on Thursday evening, with the Phoenix outscoring the Titans 53-31 over the final three quarters.

Emaia O'Brien led the way for Detroit Mercy with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Aaliyah McQueen scored nine on 4-of-12 from the field. The Titan defense couldn't keep up with Green Bay's offense, which saw four players score at least 12 points on Thursday, as the Phoenix ended the game shooting 44.1 percent from the field the fourth highest percentage allowed by Detroit Mercy this season (second highest in Horizon League games).

One thing that Detroit Mercy is not afraid to do it play physical and get to the free throw line as the Titans are in the top 50 of Division I in both free throws attempted per game (19.56) and free throws made per game (13.94), both numbers are still second to Cleveland State within the conference.

The Panthers will once again see a sharpshoorter in the Horizon League as O'Brien is third in the league in three-point shooting percentage, knocking down 43.9 percent from three, good enough for 22nd individually in all of Division I.

Detroit Mercy is in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories in the Horizon League but where they do rise to the top is in steals, where they are second in the league at 9.63 per game and third with 10.8 offensive rebounds per game. On the contrary, the Titans are last in assist/turnover ratio at a 0.58 with 177 assists and 307 turnovers this season.

UP NEXT
Three road games follow Saturday's matchup with Detroit Mercy, as Milwaukee will head to Northern Kentucky on Jan. 23, and look for a season sweep of Wright State on Jan. 25. The road trip will conclude with IU Indy on Jan. 29.

CAREER DAY FOR LUTZ
On Jan. 16 vs. Oakland, Anna Lutz had a career afternoon as she finished the game with 30 points on 13 field goal makes.

Her 30-point performance were the 40th occurrence in Milwaukee basketball history, and first since former teammate Kendall Nead had 38 points against McNeese State on Nov. 17, 2023. Her 13 field goal makes is also tied for sixth in program history in a single game.

In five career games against Oakland, Lutz has shot 33-of-44 (75.0 percent) from the field, 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from three, and has 73 points and 23 rebounds when facing the Golden Grizzlies.

JOINING THE 100 STEAL CLUB
With four steals to tie her career high on Jan. 16 vs. Oakland, Kamy Peppler reached the 100-steal mark for her career. To break into the top-10, Peppler will need another 37 steals this season, as the 10th place occupant is Maria Viall with 137 career steals. The all-time leader is Pam Bartnik with 268 steals in a Panther career.

ALL-TIME IN ASSISTS
Kamy Peppler has a total of 356 assists, currently placing her fifth on the all-time list in Panther history. She is currently 74 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.

With her seven assists on Jan. 16 vs. Oakland, Peppler crossed over the 100-assist plateau for the season, accomplishing the feat in each of her three seasons at Milwaukee. Should Peppler hold onto her team lead, she will become the first Panther since Jen Greger to lead the team for three consecutive seasons with 100+ assists, Greger had 129 in 1994-95, 109 in 1995-96, and 123 in 1996-97.

PANTHERS FOR THREE
In early January, Iowa State had its NCAA Division I record-setting streak of 945 consecutive games with a three-point basket stopped by Texas Tech.

With the Cyclones failing to convert, Milwaukee now takes over the third longest active streak in which it has made at least one three-point basket at 688 games. Chattanooga leads the way with 792 followed by South Alabama at 744, through games played on Jan. 16.

RECENT STRETCH FOR 24
Since Nov. 28, Jada Donaldson had been shooting at a high efficiency, scoring 33-of-68 from the field (48.5 percent) and 17-of-38 from three (44.7 percent).

Overall, this season, Donaldson has made 48-of-110 from the field (43.6 percent) and 24-of-57 from three (42.1 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 (103) and assists per game (5.4), while Anna Lutz is third in the league lead in both blocks (21) and blocks per game (1.1).

Kacee Baumhower is among the league leaders in field goal attempts with 220, field goals made (83), free throws made (56), free throws attempted (69), and points scored (258).

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 15 games connecting on just 28.2 percent (96-for-340).

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 40.3 percent (217-for-538) of its shots in the first half and 40.2 percent (202-for-503) in the second half. In overtime, the Panthers are 7-for-30 (23.3 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 41 instances of players scoring double digits in a game including Anna Lutz (12) and Kacee Baumhower (12) 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 1.07 assist/turnover ratio and has a career mark of 1.83 assists to turnovers, with 227 assists and 124 turnovers in 122 career games.

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

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.

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.

IN OVERTIME
With the team's four overtime losses this season, Milwaukee is now 21-27 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. With four games going beyond the allotted 40 minutes, the 2024-25 season has seen the most overtime games in one season in program history. The previous record was three set on six occasions (2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 1999-2000, and 1996-97).

SCHOOL DAY SUCCESS
Despite the loss to Oakland on Jan. 16 this season, the Panthers still boast an 8-2 record in games played on 'School Day'.

Milwaukee lost the first-ever 'School Day' game against North Dakota in 2013 but won the next eight. All eight wins came against Horizon League opponents, including two each against Cleveland State and Robert Morris. Milwaukee is now 1-1 against Oakland on 'School Day' games.

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).

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).

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 3-6 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 112-42 (.727) 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 32 of their 66 games and scored 625 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).

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.