MILWAUKEE – Halle Vice scored a career-high 23 points and Lee Volker had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds as visiting Marquette won Wednesday evening's non-conference tilt against the Milwaukee Panthers.
 
Vice shot 9-of-11 from the field as Marquette finished the game shooting 43.3 percent as a team, while Milwaukee struggled to find its rhythm against a stout Golden Eagle defense, connecting on just 29.8 from the floor.
 
"Marquette is a very strong defensive team," said head coach Kyle Rechlicz. "Give them a lot of credit, their defense is how they've been winning games this season."
 
The Panthers were led by Jorey Buwalda, who delivered another double-digit performance with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Sophia Rampulla added six points off the bench and collected four of Milwaukee's 10 steals.
 
Marquette scored the first six points of the game and led by as many as nine in the opening quarter before Micayla Silas knocked down a mid-range shot and then connected on a three-pointer to trim the deficit to 13-9.
 
The Golden Eagles stretched an 11-point run into the second quarter to take a 15-point advantage. Grace Lomen pulled Milwaukee back within eight with a jumper, forcing a Marquette timeout midway through the period. After a MU three-pointer, Payton Rechlicz answered with one of her own to bring the margin back to single digits, but the Panthers could not get closer.
 
The visitors led 38-23 at halftime and continued to build on their advantage with a strong third-quarter performance en route to the 75-43 victory.
 
"It was nice to see us get shots on goal tonight," added Rechlicz on the team's 57 field goal attempts. "I thought that we were very aggressive; however you've got to hit shots. When you shoot 12 percent (2-for-16) in the third quarter, you're putting yourself in a tough position to make a comeback against the team that is as experienced as Marquette."
 
Silas and Rechlicz each finished the game with five points, while Jada Williams secured four rebounds. Kendall Barnes and Izzy Pugh both scored four points on identical 2-of-5 shooting efforts, with Barnes also leading Milwaukee with three assists.
 
"We're still trying to grow as a team," Rechlicz concluded. "I'm not disappointed in this game because I felt like we really fought every possession. There wasn't a moment where I felt like we backed down."
 
The Panthers will face their second consecutive Big East opponent on Sunday, heading to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a 1:00 p.m. (CT) matchup against the Butler Bulldogs.