MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee women's basketball faces its first road test since the calendar turned to 2025 as the Panthers head to the Gates Sports Center to dual with the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. (CT).
 
Milwaukee's audio stream will also be available on the 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 and the link to video on ESPN+, provided by Purdue Fort Wayne, can be found on MKEPanthers.com.
 
THE MATCHUP
Thursday, Jan. 9 – Milwaukee at Purdue Fort Wayne | Gates Sports Center | Fort Wayne, Ind. | 6:00 pm (CT)
 
QUICK LINKS
Listen on Black & Gold Network: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Listen on Varsity Network: App Store & Google Play
Live Stats: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Watch on ESPN+: mkepanthers.com/coverage
Tickets: Purdue Fort Wayne Ticket Page
Follow Along (On X): @MKE_WBB
 
QUICK NOTES
» Milwaukee takes a quick one-game trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana on Thursday for a 6:00 p.m. start against the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne at the Gates Sports Center.
» The Panthers are coming off a one-score loss to Northern Kentucky, 68-65, on Saturday afternoon with the Norse taking a late lead and hanging on for the win.
» Kamy Peppler and Anna Lutz led the team with 13 points apiece, with Peppler and Jorey Buwalda leading the team with five rebounds apiece.
» Peppler had 16 assists on the week including an 11-assist performance on Thursday against Wright State as she recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points.
» Milwaukee shot 45.8 percent from the field on Saturday against NKU, its third highest percentage in a game this season and the highest percentage in a loss in 2024-25.
» Unbeaten in their last eight and entering with an unblemished 6-0 record in Horizon League games, the Mastodons welcome the Panthers to Indiana coming off a 40-point win over Oakland, 77-37.
» Sydney Freeman led Purdue Fort Wayne in the win with 21 points in 25 minutes including five three-point makes. Renna Schwieterman had 11 off the bench, while Lauren Ross and Amellia Bromenschenkel scored 10 apiece. Ross also had a double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds.
» In 14 all-time meetings against Purdue Fort Wayne, Milwaukee is 9-5, which includes a 2-4 record in games played in Fort Wayne. The Mastodons swept last season's series, 65-55 in Milwaukee and 75-55 in Fort Wayne. The last Panther win in the series came in late February 2023, a 64-34 victory for MKE at home.

LOOKING AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE
Projected to finish third in the preseason poll after a three-round run in last season's National Invitation Tournament, the Mastodons currently lead the charge atop the Horizon League standings. All-League honoree Shayla Sellers has joined Maria Marchesano's staff, for a team the features six players listed as fifth-year seniors or graduate students.

The team is led by Preseason All-League First Team selection Amellia Bromenschenkel, who averages a team-best 31.9 minutes per game and is averaging 10.8 points per game and a team-high 5.8 boards per contest. On her third stop in three seasons, Lauren Ross played three years at Western Michigan before transferring to Michigan State in 2023-24 and making her way to Fort Wayne this year. The move has paid dividends as Ross has scored fewer than 10 points just once this season, averaging a team-best 17.1 per game.

The Dons enter play this week ranked in the top-10 nationally in three-pointers per game, which is tops in the Horizon League, at 9.9 per contest. The team is also in the top-50 in scoring margin (+17.9), scoring offense (78.8 ppg), as well as turnover margin (+7.9), as they limit turnovers to just 13.3 giveaways per contest.

PFW has outscored Horizon League opponents by 101 points this season for an average of 16.8-point scoring margin. In league games, the Mastodons are shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three, defensively Purdue Fort Wayne holds opponents to 36.4 percent overall and just 28.6 percent from three. Through six league games, the Dons have turned the ball over just 73 times while the opponents have given the ball away 119 times, including 59 on PFW steals.

Ross has had ice in her veins from three during the conference slate, shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc and 44.6 percent overall. Bromenschenkel has converted on 51.5 percent overall from the floor while Jazzlyn Linbo (46.7 percent) has also been an efficient starter this season. In reserve, Renna Schwieterman has made the most of her 15.7 minutes per game off the bench, contributing 6.8 points per game for Purdue Fort Wayne this season.

Ball movement has been incredibly key for the Dons this season, with 80 helpers on 155 field goal makes (51.6 percent) in the six league games this year, just off the team's overall pace of 235 assists on 448 makes (52.5 percent) this season.

UP NEXT
Milwaukee returns home next Thursday for an 11:00 a.m. start against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at the Klotsche Center. The weekend will conclude with the Panthers hosting Detroit Mercy on Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m.

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 344 assists, currently placing her fifth on the all-time list in Panther history. She is currently three 86 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 30-of-58 from the field (51.7 percent) and 17-of-34 from three (50.0 percent).

Overall, this season, Donaldson has made 45-of-100 from the field (45.0 percent) and 24-of-53 from three (45.3 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 (91) and assists per game (5.4), while Anna Lutz is second in the league lead in both blocks (20), and fourth in blocks per game (1.2).

Kacee Baumhower is among the league leaders in field goal attempts with 195, field goals made (87), free throws made (52), free throws attempted (64), and points scored (232).

TOUGHEST SCHEDULES
Through games played on Jan. 5 according to the NCAA, Milwaukee has played the sixth toughest among the Horizon League programs, with the Panther opponents posting a .494 winning percentage. The schedule ranks 253rd in toughest schedules among all Division I programs.

Northern Kentucky has played the 131st toughest schedule in Division I, followed by Oakland at 142. On the opposite end of the listing, Cleveland State has played the 8th weakest schedule in Division I, while Robert Morris has played the 22nd weakest and Youngstown State has played the 23rd weakest.

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 13 games connecting on just 28.3 percent (84-for-297).

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 40.5 percent (194-for-479) of its shots in the first half and 39.6 percent (178-for-450) 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 37 instances of players scoring double digits in a game including Anna Lutz (11) and Kacee Baumhower (10) leading the team with at least 10 games of 10-plus points. 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 Izzy Pugh and Payton Rechlicz have reached double digits once each 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 1.25 assist/turnover ratio and has a career mark of 1.91 assists to turnovers, with 225 assists and 118 turnovers in 120 career games.

Milwaukee is currently fifth in the Horizon League as a team with a 0.85 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 2-2 in games that Buwalda leads the team in rebounds, falling to Wisconsin and Northern Kentucky and 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 3-4 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 26-86 (.232).

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 30 of their 64 games and scored 606 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.