MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's basketball team returns home for a non-conference tilt against the Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Klotsche Center. It will be the first meeting between the two programs since the 2012-13 campaign, and just the fifth all-time matchup for the Panthers against the Broncos.

Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Matt Menzl on the air to call all the action, with links for the broadcast as well as live stats of available at MKEPanthers.com.
 
THE MATCHUP & GAME LINKS
Thursday, Nov. 13 | Western Michigan at Milwaukee | Klotsche Center | Milwaukee, Wis. | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN+ / Live Stats | Tickets | Follow Along (on X)
 
QUICK NOTES
» After a 1-1 road trip, Milwaukee returns home for it second home game of the season as the Panthers play host to the Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.
» This will be the first meeting between Milwaukee and Western Michigan in just shy of 13 years, as the teams last met on Nov. 14, 2012, in Milwaukee, an 88-79 Panther victory.
» This is just the fifth all-time meeting between the two sides, with the home team winning each of the first four matchups.
» Milwaukee enters off a 75-46 loss to Wisconsin on Monday, taking on their in-state Big Ten foe for the fifth consecutive season. The Badgers were led by Breauna Ware and Jovana Spasovski with 13 and 11 points off the bench, respectively.
» For the Panthers, Jada Williams led Milwaukee in scoring for the first time in her career with eight points including a pair of first-quarter three-point makes. Jorey Buwalda led the Panthers in rebounds with eight.
» It was a cold night from the floor for the Black & Gold, connecting on just 29.6 percent (16-54) against the Badgers. The team's worst shooting night since Feb. 13, 2025, at Detroit Mercy, when the team connected on just 27.8 from the field.
» Coaching the Detroit Mercy Titans at the time was Kate Achter, who now leads Western Michigan. In her nine previous seasons at Loyola Chicago (2016-22) and Detroit Mercy (2022-25), Achter has a 0-2 record with the Ramblers, and a 4-3 record with the Titans against the Panthers. The win includes her final with the Titans, knocking Milwaukee out of the Horizon League Championship, 73-62 in the first round.

QUICK LOOK AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan is 0-2 to start the Achter Era, falling to Appalachian State (65-45) on the road, before dropping their home opener to Duquesne (72-64) this past Sunday. After visiting Milwaukee, the Broncos head to East Lansing to take on top-25 opponent Michigan State.

WMU was tabbed ninth in the Mid-American preseason poll, garnering 48 points, which is 25 points better than Northern Illinois, who the Panthers had already defeated. Kent State, Toledo, UMass, and Ball State were selected in the top four positions of the league. There were no Broncos selected on either the first or second Preseason All-MAC Teams.

The team returns just five players to see time a season ago, led by Lauren Audino, and Alli Carlson, who both started in 23 games a season ago. D'Myjah Bolds played in 27 games a season ago, while Alli Harness and De'Ahna Richardson each played in 18.

Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection Kailey Starks followed Achter from Detroit Mercy, while the team also welcomed transfers Morasha Wiggins (Arizona State), Ariana Wilkes (High Point), and Adelina Urtane (Western Nebraska CC) as transfers.

WESTERN MICHIGAN – PLAYERS TO WATCH
D'Myjah Bolds – 21 Games / 1 Start in 2024-25, 11.9 Minutes/Game, 3.6 Points/Game, 2.9 Rebounds/Game, 12 Steals, 20 Blocks.
Alli Carlson – 25 Games / 23 Starts in 2024-25, 32.4 Minutes/Game, 8.4 Points/Game, 3.4 Rebounds/Game, 70 Assists, 45 Steals.
De'Ahna Richardson – 18 Games / 2 Starts in 2024-25, 12.9 Minutes/Game, 2.3 Points/Game, 1.9 Rebounds/Game, 7 Steals, 4 Blocks.
Kailey Starks – 30 Games / 5 Starts in 2024-25 at Detroit Mercy, 20.0 Minutes/Game, 5.2 Points/Game, 3.2 Rebounds/Game, 24 Assists, 28 Steals.

LAST MEETING
When Milwaukee and Western Michigan last met during the 2012-13 season, many of the current student-athletes that make up this year's rosters were in grade school. The last meeting took place on Nov. 14, 2012, with the Panthers coming out on top 88-79, back when NCAA women's basketball was played in two halves.

The Panthers outscored the Broncos 41-34 in the first half, and then in a high-scoring second half outpaced the Broncos by two at 47-45. Milwaukee was led by Ashley Green, who had a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double. She was one of five Panthers in double figures, joined by Sami Tucker (18), Emily Decorah (15), Sammy Theut (11), and Angela Rodriguez (10).

Aurielle Anderson had an impressive 26 points for WMU among the first starters, while three off the bench had at least 10 points, including double doubles from both Miracle Woods and Michelle O'Brien.

UP NEXT
The Panthers head back on the road for a Sunday afternoon matchup against Valparaiso on Nov. 16 at 4:00 p.m. Last season, the Panthers defeated the Beacons at home, 90-79, and are currently on a six-game winning streak against their former Horizon League foe.

ON THIS DATE
Milwaukee is 2-4 all-time on Nov. 13 including losses in their last two games. The Panthers have wins over Evansville in 2009-10 and Western Illinois in 2016-17, while the team has losses to Miami (Florida) (2006-07), Oklahoma (2010-11), Wisconsin (2018-19), and Marquette (2022-23).

FIRST YEAR HEAD COACHES
This game is the third consecutive contest that Milwaukee is taking on a team with a first-year head coach at their respective institution. Northern Illinois is coached by Jacey Brooks, Wiscon-sin is coached by Robin Pingeton, and Western Michigan is coached by Kate Achter.

On Sunday, Milwaukee will make it four first-year coaches in a row, when they take on new Valparaiso head coach Courtney Boyd. There are also two new head coaches in the Horizon League with Kiefer Haffey replacing Achter at Detroit Mercy, and Keisha Newell taking over at Oakland.

WHO'S LEADING TODAY?
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, Milwaukee has been led by three different scorers to start the season through its first three games. Jorey Buwalda had 18 vs. Loyola Chicago, Kendall Barnes had 17 at Northern Illinois, and Jada Williams had eight against Wisconsin.

In 2022-23, Milwaukee were led by Angie Cera vs. Wisconsin, Megan Walstad vs. Loyola Chicago, and Emma Wittmershaus at Marquette. The last time the Panthers had a different leading scorer through their first four games was in 2020-21, Miquela Santoro vs. Ball State, Brandi Bisping at Bradley, McKaela Schmelzer at Marquette, and Sydney Staver at Bowling Green.

FRESHMAN SUCCESS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
In Milwaukee's win over Northern Illinois, the Panthers were led by Kendall Barnes with 17 points, and Madison Fitzgibbon with 15 points.

The last time that Milwaukee had two freshmen score 15 points in a single game came back on Jan. 2, 2011, against Detroit Mercy, when Angela Rodriguez score 15 and Courtney Lindfors scored 15. Lindfors only played 17 minutes and fouled out of the contest against the Titans.

The last time Milwaukee had two freshmen score double digits in a game was back on Dec. 29, 2022, also against Detroit Mercy. Anna Lutz scored 11 and Kamy Peppler dropped in 10.

EFFICIENT EFFORT AGAINST THE HUSKIES
Milwaukee finished the Nov. 7 game against Northern Illinois making 48.9 percent from the field (22-45) and 52.9 percent from range (9-17).

From the field it was the Panthers' best effort since they played then-IUPUI on Feb. 8, 2024, when the team knocked down 51.5 percent overall (24-47), and 51.1 percent from three (8-14).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR BUWALDA
In her first game of the 2025-26 season, Jorey Buwalda registered her first double-double of the year with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Her 14 rebounds tied her career high, while her 34 minutes played and nine field goals made against the Ramblers were both career-best marks.

The double-double is the third career for Buwalda, who had two her freshman season against Mississippi Valley Stats on Nov. 18, 2023 (20 Points, 12 Rebounds), and at Northern Kentucky on Jan. 7, 2024 (18 Points, 12 Rebounds).

As a team, Milwaukee had just two Points-Rebounds double-doubles throughout the 2024-25 season, both by Anna Lutz, on Nov. 4 at St. Thomas and on Nov. 14 versus Valparaiso. The team also had three Points-Assists Double-Doubles a season ago, all by Kamy Peppler.

TRUE FRESHMAN STARTER IN SEASON OPENER
Against Loyola Chicago, Madison Fitzgibbon became just the 18th true freshman starter to be a part of the opening five since the program joined the Division I level in 1990-91. She is the first to do so since the 2022-23 season.

THAT'S AN ODD NUMBER
It's actually an even number, but Rita Gomes, who wears No. 16, became the first player in Milwaukee program history to wear a number that is not 0-1-2-3-4-5 in a game ever. The NCAA lifted the rule on numbers 6-7-8-9 prior to the 2023-24 season.

THE NON-CON SLATE
Milwaukee plays 11 non-conference matchups this season in preparation for the long haul of Horizon League play. The Panthers will take on four former conference opponents with Loyola Chicago at home (Nov. 3), at Northern Illinois (Nov. 7), at Valparaiso (Nov. 16), and at Butler (Nov. 23).

The team will also take on in-state foes with Wisconsin in Madison on Nov. 10, and Marquette at home on Nov. 19. MKE will take on Western Michigan for the first time since the 2012-13 season, but a familiar face will be at the helm with Kate Achter taking over after having been the head coach at Detroit Mercy for the past three seasons.

There will also be four first-time opponents in regular season play this year with Milwaukee taking on host Pacific as well as UC Davis on Nov. 28-29 at the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off in Stockton, Calif. While the team will also host Division III opponents Ripon (Dec. 14) and Wisconsin Lutheran (Dec. 20) to wrap-up non-conference play

CLOSING IN ON 500
Milwaukee currently has with 496 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 190 to the all-time total.

WITHIN THE HORIZON
Below are Milwaukee's top performers in each statistical category, as provided by the Horizon League…
Scoring: Jorey Buwalda (20th, 10.3 Points/Game)
Rebounding: Jorey Buwalda (3rd, 10.3 Rebounds/Game)
3-Point Field Goal per Game: Madison Fitzgibbon (11th, 2.0 per Game)
Free Throw Percentage: Jorey Buwalda (5th, .800 Pct.)
Blocks: Jorey Buwalda (11th, 1.0 Blocks/Game)

PANTHERS FOR THREE
In January 2025, 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 has the third longest active streak in Division I.

All-Time Streaks
1. Iowa State – 945 (1995-2025)
2. Chattanooga – 809 (1999-Present) *
3. South Alabama – 760 (2000-Present) *
4. Milwaukee – 704 (2002-Present) *
5. Dayton – 697 (2001-2024)
* - Active Streak (through Nov. 11, 2025)

TEN FOR THREE
After just three games with at least 10-three point makes in 2023-24, the Panthers rebounded by doing so on eight occasions in 2024-25, including the postseason game against Detroit Mercy.

Since taking over the program, Kyle Rechlicz has seen her team record at least 10 three-point baskets in a game on 71 occasions.

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 117-44 (.727) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 100-24 (.806). When shooting under 40 percent, Milwaukee is 26-96 (.213).

KEEPING THE FOULS DOWN
Since the 2022-23 season, when Milwaukee has committed 11 fouls or fewer, the Panthers are 12-2. On the contrary, the Panthers are 10-30 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 37 of their 81 games and scored 749 second-chance points.

IN THE PAINT
Since the start of the 2023-24 season when Milwaukee scored more than 25 points in the paint the Panthers have a 20-16 record, while the team was 5-27 when scoring fewer than 25 points in the paint.

BALANCING THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES
Last season Milwaukee was consistent in its shooting by making 39.6 percent (354-for-896) of its shots in the first half and 39.3 percent (338-for-862) in the second half. In overtime, the Panthers are 7-for-30 (23.3 percent).

This year the Panthers are 41.1 percent (30-for-73) in the first half, and 35.3 percent (24-from-68) in the second half.

CLOSE GAMES
Last season, Milwaukee finished the season with a 3-14 record in games decided by nine points or fewer and will look to finish games off at a better clip in 2025-26. The Panthers' three wins decided by nine or fewer points came in both home and road wins over IU Indy, as well as the home win over Youngstown State.

In 2025-26, the Panthers are 0-1 in games decided by single digits.

IN OVERTIME
Last season, Milwaukee set a program record with appearances in four overtime games and now has a record of 21-27 in games to go beyond 40 minutes since joining Division I prior to the 1990-91 season. The Panthers have gone to overtime on three occasions in season openers, winning over Parkside in 2019-20, before falling to Ball State in 2021-22, and St. Thomas in 2024-25.