HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – After falling behind by as many as 18 points in the first half, the Milwaukee women's basketball team could only get back within five late, dropping a 63-55 decision to Northern Kentucky on Wednesday.
 
Milwaukee was led by Rita Gomes with a Panther-high 11 points, while Sophia Rampulla scored a career-best 10 in the effort.
 
Three players reached double figures for the Norse, including the game's leading scorer, Karina Bystry, who had 20 points on an 11-of-13 effort from the free throw line. Mya Meredith posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Taysha Rushton added 11 points.
 
Northern Kentucky grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and won the overall rebounding battle by a 46-37 margin, as Abby Wolterman tied Meredith for the team lead in boards. The Norse's physical presence allowed the home team to score 12 second-chance points and add 24 points in the paint.
 
"Northern Kentucky is a tough team, and I felt we did a great job of battling back after a slow start," said head coach Kyle Rechlicz. "The game came down to rebounding and free throws. We have to take more pride in boxing out, especially in our zone defense, and walling up without fouling."
 
 
The Panthers committed 22 fouls, resulting in a 25-of-30 effort from the free throw line for Northern Kentucky.
 
After NKU built a 31-13 lead midway through the second quarter, Milwaukee stemmed the tide by scoring 10 unanswered points. Kendall Barnes sparked the run with a layup, while Rampulla capped it with a three-pointer to slice the deficit to eight at 31-23. Northern Kentucky closed the half with a few free throws to take a 37-25 lead into the break.
 
Down 51-40 in the fourth, Gomes knocked down her first three-pointer of the night with 5:52 left in the game to once again cut the margin to eight. Payton Rechlicz kept it a single-digit game before Gomes drained another three to make it seven, then followed a turnover with a layup to pull Milwaukee within five.
 
"Rita came in the second half and gave us a huge lift off the bench," added Rechlicz. "She was confident and aggressive. That's something we need more of from her."
 
The remainder of the game turned into a free-throw affair. Northern Kentucky connected on four straight from the line before Grace Lomen responded with three after being fouled beyond the arc. After two more free throws by the Norse, Rampulla converted a layup, and a final pair from the charity stripe sealed the win for Northern Kentucky.
 
Lomen added eight points, while Jorey Buwalda recorded seven points and a team-best nine rebounds. Payton Rechlicz finished with five points, five rebounds and three steals.
 
Milwaukee returns to the Klotsche Center for its next three games, beginning Saturday against Green Bay. The Panthers will celebrate Alumni Day and recognize the program's 25th anniversary of the 2000-01 and 20th anniversary of the 2005-06 league championship teams.