MILWAUKEE – In a game that featured 18 lead changes and neither side leading by more than six points, Northern Kentucky came out on top with a 59-56 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday morning.
 
In the program's annual 'School Day' contest, the Panthers and Norse played in front of a crowd of 2,140 fans, who were treated to the back-and-forth affair.
 
Milwaukee was led by Payton Rechlicz, who scored 15 points and had three three-pointers, while Jorey Buwalda added 12 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Madison Fitzgibbon added a team-best five assists.
 
Northern Kentucky was paced by Mya Meredith with 18 points, while Karina Bystry scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds. Meredith had the go-ahead field goal with 13.9 seconds remaining to put the Norse up for good and later iced the game with a pair of free throws.
 
The Panthers played well defensively, holding Northern Kentucky to just 31 percent (18-of-58) from the field and 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from beyond the arc. However, the Norse converted 18-of-25 from the free throw line, while the Panthers attempted just 12 free throws in the game.
 
"I thought our close outs were better," said head coach Kyle Rechlicz on the defensive effort. "They weren't getting as many threes since we were able to contain the dribble more. We weren't getting beat as badly off the dribble, so they couldn't establish their inside-outside game and knock down threes like they did earlier this season."
 
After a slow start for both teams, Milwaukee trailed 12-6 after the opening quarter. The Panthers rebounded in the second and outscored Northern Kentucky 19-13 to send the game into halftime tied at 25.
 
Down by one with less than 30 seconds to go in the third, Micayla Silas knocked down a buzzer-beating three to give Milwaukee a 41-39 lead heading into the fourth.
 
The game was tied at 45 midway through the final before NKU took several three-point leads but were unable to pull away. Jada Williams scored on a layup, and after a defensive rebound by the Panthers, Rechlicz knocked down a three from the left wing to put Milwaukee back in front.
 
Bystry responded with a three of her own before a layup by Rechlicz gave the lead back to the home side. Meredith answered back with a contested jumper from just inside the free throw line to score the go-ahead basket and later added free throws to seal the victory.
 
Bystry and Meredith combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter, which proved to be enough for the win.
 
"Towards the end of the game we struggled a little defensively, specifically on Karina Bystry," added Rechlicz. "That's something we need to continue to build on."
 
Silas ended the game with six points and Williams added four. Izzy Pugh added another five points off the bench.
 
Milwaukee will be off this weekend, and resume play Wednesday evening when the Panthers take on Wright State on Feb. 18. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT) at the Nutter Center.