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The UW-Milwaukee Panthers hosted their 11th annual ‘School Day’ game at the Klotsche Center Thursday morning against the Northern Kentucky Norse.
It was a wildly entertaining game with a rowdy crowd of 2,140 filling up The K. Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Panthers (8-19, 4-12 Horizon) were unable to hold on to a late lead in a 59-56 loss to the Northern Kentucky Norse (12-14, 9-6 Horizon).
The game featured 18 lead changes and neither side led by more than six points.
Payton Rechlicz, the daughter of UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz, I thought played a heck of a game on both ends of the court.
Payton made a contested bucket to put UWM in the lead at 56-55 with 33 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Northern Kentucky possession, I thought the Panthers played great defense, but Mya Meredith hit a contested bucket with 13.9 seconds remaining to give NKU the lead at 57-56. After a UWM timeout, the Panthers turned the ball over, but after fouling they had one final chance down 59-56 with four seconds remaining in the game. Rita Gomes bobbled the inbounds pass and air balled a three. Game over.
Payton Rechlicz led UWM with 15 points and Jorey Buwalda added 12 points and seven rebounds. True freshman Madison Fitzgibbon, who’s continued to get better and better as the season has gone along, finished with a team-high five assists with zero turnovers.
Northern Kentucky was led by Meredith’s 18-points, while Karina Bystry scored 16 points with six rebounds.
I thought UWM’s defense played its best game of the season, as they held NKU to 18-of-58 (31%) from the field and 5-of-26 (19%) from three-point range. However, the Norse hit on 18-of-25 (72%) at the free throw line.
“I thought our close outs were better,” UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. “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 in the season.” Rechlicz went on to say: “Towards the end of the game we struggled a little bit defensively, specifically on Karina Bystry. That’s something we need to continue to build on.”
I know it’s disappointing that the team is sitting with an 8-19 record right now. But this team has the talent, but they are super young. Of the 15 players on the roster, 10 of them are either freshman or sophomore’s. There’s only one senior on the team this season.
From game one to now, this team has gotten better and it’s night & day noticeable. It’s a young and talented team that’s learning how to win at this level.
Better days are coming, Panthers fans!
Milwaukee is next in action on Wednesday, February 18th. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT) from the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio where they take on the Wright State Raiders (8-18, 4-11 Horizon).
