MILWAUKEE – The regular season and the Horizon League schedule closes for Milwaukee women's basketball on Thursday evening as the Panthers welcome Purdue Fort Wayne to the Klotsche Center, with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m.

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, Feb. 27 – Purdue Fort Wayne at Milwaukee | Klotsche Center | Milwaukee, Wis. | 6:00 pm
 
QUICK LINKS
Promotions: Black History Month Celebration
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 regular season closes for Milwaukee women's basketball as the Panthers will look to end the season on a high note, when the Panthers host the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons for a 6:00 p.m. tip at the Klotsche Center.
» The Panthers fell to league-leading Green Bay on Saturday afternoon by a score of 68-45. Anna Lutz had 10 points to lead Milwaukee, while Kamy Peppler added seven, and Izzy Pugh chipped in with six off the bench for the Panthers.
» Green Bay got off to a torrid start, shooting 55 percent in the first half while opening a 40-14 halftime lead. Milwaukee closed the gap in the second half including a game-best 46.2 percent from the field in the fourth quarter.
» Purdue Fort Wayne heads to Wisconsin to close out its season beginning with Milwaukee on Thursday before continuing to Green Bay on Saturday. The Mastodons enter as winners of their last two and 19 of their last 20 games.
» PFW played Detroit Mercy on Sunday and won by 29 points in a 91-62 rout as the team had its second-best field goal percentage against a Division I team this year at .523, only their .587 against Eastern Michigan was better. The team also shot .589 against Defiance, and .548 against Aquinas, both NAIA members.
» The Mastodons had 15 three-point makes in the win over Detroit Mercy, including five from Lauren Ross, who finished the game with 20 points. Sydney Freeman had 15, Audra Emmerson and Renna Schwieterman scored 14 points each, while Amellia Bromenschenkel netted 11 points in the win.
» Purdue Fort Wayne is looking for its fourth-straight win over the Panthers to extend its longest-ever winning streak against Milwaukee. The Panthers are 9-6 in Division I matchups, and 5-4 as Horizon League foes. Milwaukee is also 7-1 in games played at home against the Mastodons.

LOOKING AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE
Purdue Fort Wayne enters Thursday's game looking to do something the program has done just once in a regular sea-son, win a 23rd game. While the Mastodons won 23 games in 2023-24, two of those wins came in postseason play. The only other time Purdue Fort Wayne won 23 in a regular season came during its Division II Era in 1995-96 as mem-bers of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

This year's team boasts wins in 19 of its last 20 games, including a program-record 17-game winning streak that began in the team's Horizon League-opening win over Robert Morris on Dec. 4 through Feb. 8. After falling to Cleveland State on Feb. 15, the Mastodons have bounced back with a road win at Northern Kentucky before taking down Detroit Mer-cy at home on Sunday afternoon.

With a 17-1 Horizon League record, Purdue Fort Wayne enters the week looking to sweep through Milwaukee and Green Bay in search of a Horizon League Regular Season Championship. However, the Panthers will look to thwart those plans for the second-straight season after knocking off Green Bay in last season's regular season finale and keep-ing the Phoenix from an outright title in 2023-24.

Purdue Fort Wayne has a 12-1 record in home games, while the team is 10-5 in games played outside of Fort Wayne, Indiana. While the Dons have blown teams out at home with a +24.2 point differential, the same cannot be said on the road as games have been decided by an average of 10.6 points in favor of PFW.

The team connects on 46.4 percent overall and 37.6 percent from three at home, while making just 42.7 percent over-all and 34.5 percent from three in away games. The biggest drop off individually is Lauren Ross, who averages 18.2 points and 53.5 percent of attempts at home, compared to 14.5 points per game on the road while shooting 42.1 per-cent in away game.

Turnover margin has also been a key difference between home and away games with the Dons averaging a +9.8 at home versus +4.9 in games played outside of Fort Wayne.

UP NEXT
While the Panthers will be idle on Mar. 1, the remaining 10 teams of the Horizon League will be jockeying for position in the upcoming Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship.

The Panthers will have to await their next opponent in the First Round of the Championship, which will take place at a higher seed, and be at a time to be determined on Tuesday, Mar. 4.

THE TALE OF TWO TEAMS
This season, Milwaukee has had a stark difference when comparing the wins and losses during the 2024-25 campaign.

In Wins…
Scoring: 72.3 Points For, 59.4 Points Allowed
FG %: 45.3 % Overall, 39.3% from Three
Rebounds: 38.0 (+6.5 Rebounding Margin)
Assist %: 71.1 % (143 Assists/201 Field Goal Makes)

In Losses…
Scoring: 57.4 Points For, 70.5 Points Allowed
FG%: 37.5 % Overall, 27.5% from Three
Rebounds: 33.1 (-4.5 Rebounding Margin)
Assist %: 57.4 % (263 Assists/458 Field Goal Makes)

ALL-TIME IN ASSISTS
Kamy Peppler has a total of 397 assists, currently placing her fifth on the all-time list in Panther history. She is currently 33 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.

SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS AT MILWAUKEE
1. Angela Rodriguez (2013-14) – 168
T2. Kamy Peppler (2023-24) – 153
T2. Pam Bartnik (1993-93) – 153
4. Jodie McClain (2009-10) – 150
5. Kamy Peppler (2024-25) - 144

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 assists (144) and is second in assists per game (4.8), while Anna Lutz is third in the league in blocks (31) and is fifth in blocks per game (1.0).

Kacee Baumhower is among the league leaders in field goal attempts with 317, field goals made (114), free throws made (81), free throws attempted (98), and points scored (359).

DOUBLE-DIGIT GETTERS
This season, Milwaukee has had 66 instances of players scoring double digits in a game including Anna Lutz (19) and Kacee Baumhower (17) leading the team. Kamy Peppler has accomplished double digits in points 11 times in 2024-25.

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

CAREER GAMES PLAYED AT MILWAUKEE
1. McKaela Schmelzer (2017-22) – 148
2. Alyssa Fischer (2015-20) – 134
3. Jada Donaldson (2020-Present) – 133
4. Jenny Lindner (2014-18) – 128

LEADING IN POINTS AND REBOUNDS
On Feb. 8, Anna Lutz led Milwaukee with 20 points and eight rebounds, the fifth time she has done so this season. Other than Lutz, only Jorey Buwalda at Northern Kentucky on Jan. 23 has done so in a single game this season.

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 25 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.

Kacee Baumhower also reached 100 steals for her career on Feb. 19 at home against IU Indy, which includes 33 as a Panther this season. She had 67 during her two seasons played at Wright State from 2022-24.

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.

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

With her sixth performance of 20+ points in a game on Feb. 1 versus Cleveland State, Baumhower tied Kendall Nead's mark from the 2023-24 season.

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.

FRESHMEN OF THE WEEK
Kallie Peppler was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week following her 12-point performance at Oakland on Feb. 15. Her selection as Freshman of the Week follows the Feb. 3 selection of Payton Rechlicz.

Peppler and Rechlicz become the third and fourth active players to earn Freshman of the Week honors, joining Jorey Buwalda, who earned the honor three times in 2023-24 and Kamy Peppler, who was named the top rookie during two separate weeks of the 2022-23 campaign.

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 in 699 games.

All-Time Streaks
1. Iowa State – 945 (1995-2025)
2. Chattanooga – 801 (1999-Present) *
3. South Alabama – 754 (2000-Present) *
4. Milwaukee – 699 (2002-Present) *
5. Dayton – 697 (2001-2024)
* - Active Streak (through Feb. 22, 2025)

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
For the second consecutive season the Panthers swept the season series against the IU Indy Jaguars, defeating IU Indy on Jan. 29 by a 66-62 score and again on Feb. 19 by a 77-70 margin.

What's more impressive is during both contests in 2024-25, the Panthers knocked down exactly 40 percent of their three-point attempts against the Jaguars. On Jan. 29, Milwaukee was 6-of-15 from deep, while the Panthers were 10-of-25 on Feb. 19.

It's the first time Milwaukee knocked down at least 40 percent against the same opponent in a season since the 2021-22 season, when Milwaukee connected on 61.5 percent at home against Robert Morris, and knocked down 42.1 percent in Moon Township, Pa. against the Colonials.

DEFENSIVE EFFORT IN MICHIGAN
Milwaukee's defense performed well during the trip to Michigan, holding Detroit Mercy to 50 on Feb. 13 and Oakland to 49 points on Feb. 15. It was the first time that the Panthers held back-to-back opponents under a combined 100 points since last season, when Milwaukee held Eastern Illinois (52) and Viterbo (37) to a combined 89 points.

It's the first time the Panthers kept two Division I opponents below a combined 100 points in back-to-back games since the end of the 2021-22 season, when Milwaukee held Purdue Fort Wayne to 51 in the regular season finale, and UIC to 46 in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.

GETTING CLOSER
Following wins over IU Indy on Jan. 29 and Feb. 19, as well as a win over Youngstown State on Feb. 8, Milwaukee recorded its first three wins in games decided by nine points or fewer. The Panthers are now 3-14 in games decided by three or fewer possessions, including four overtime losses.

Since Dec. 22 Milwaukee has had 13 of its last 17 games decided by single digits, including nine of its last 11 games dating back to the team's Jan. 16 game at home against Oakland. Eight of the team's 12 most recent home games have been decided by two or fewer scores.

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 seven 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, 10 vs. IU Indy on Feb. 19, and a season-best 13 against Wright State on Jan. 2 and at home against Cleveland State on Feb. 1. The team has reached double-digit threes 70 times since Kyle Rechlicz has taken over as head coach.

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 24 games connecting on just 30.3 percent (188-for-621).

The Panthers had a season-best nine three pointers in the opening half against Cleveland State on Feb. 1, followed by 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 39.5 percent (333-for-842) of its shots in the first half and 39.7 percent (320-for-806) in the second half. In overtime, the Panthers are 7-for-30 (23.3 percent).

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 116-44 (.725) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 99-24 (.805).

When shooting under 40 percent, Milwaukee is 26-92 (.220).

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 9-29 when they have committed 18 or more fouls in a contest.

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 7-9 thus far on the season when scoring 25 or more points in the paint. Milwaukee is 1-13 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.

OFFENSIVE BOARDS TURNING INTO POINTS
Dating back to the 2022-23 season, the Panthers have pulled down double-digits in offensive rebounds in 36 of their 76 games and scored 716 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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

CLOSING IN ON 500
Milwaukee currently has with 495 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 189 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).

GREEN GETS THE CALL
On Feb. 15, Milwaukee Athletics inducted its Bud K. Haidet Hall of Fame Class for 2024, which 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.

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.