Maybe Milwaukee is just getting its close losses over and done with early this year.
Across a trio of contests to begin the new season, the Panthers have been to overtime twice already. Unfortunately, they’ve dropped both matchups. Milwaukee played well in both games and held late leads, but weren’t able to finish with victories. The rest of the way, this group will be focused on finishing strong and maintaining the advantages they earn.
“We definitely need to continue to work on playing in tight scenarios late in games,” Panthers head coach Kyle Rechlicz surmised following the team’s second loss.
A runaway win against overmatched Carroll (WI) University was sandwiched between the close defeats, and taken together, Milwaukee’s first three games have offered some positives to build upon. Namely: veterans Kacee Baumhower and Anna Lutz are looking like reliable bucket-getters who will help to lead the way offensively.
In a road matchup at Saint Thomas to open the year as well as a home tilt with Butler in their third contest, Milwaukee got a combined 50 points from Baumhower. A graduate transfer who made the inter-Horizon League jump from Wright State this spring, Baumhower has quickly assumed a certain spot in MKE’s rotation. Her 26-point performance against the Tommies marked a new career-best for Baumhower, and she’s started the year by doing her damage in a variety of ways.
Against St. Thomas, Baumhower made 15 trips to the foul line and converted 12 of her freebies. Against Butler, she shot 9/17 from the floor and sank four triples. She’s also giving Rechlicz options as a playmaker. With two-year starters Kamy Peppler and Jada Donaldson both back at the point to share creative duties with Baumhower, the Panthers are developing a versatile attack. Peppler had a double-double of 11 points and 10 assists against Carroll, and has handed out 22 assists through three games. As of this article’s writing, that’s more helpers than anyone in the country has racked up this year.
Lutz has assumed Milwaukee’s primary duties in the post to begin the season, and is doing her job efficiently around the basket. With a double-double of her own already (15 points, 11 rebounds against the Tommies), Lutz has been a stalwart on the glass for a team that needs her talents. Though the Panthers started strong with 45 rebounds to the Tommies’ 31 in their matchup, Milwaukee conceded 12 offensive boards to Butler and lost the overall rebounding battle, 34-24.
Though Milwaukee held leads of at least seven points in the fourth quarter of both games, a bigger issue than rebounding thus far has been turnovers. Against St. Thomas, the Panthers coughed up 21 miscues, and they committed 18 turnovers against Butler. Against the Tommies, Milwaukee held a 65-60 advantage following a Baumhower bucket with 3:14 to play. A pair of key giveaways and fouls led to the Panthers fumbling their lead, though, before falling in the extra session.
“I thought we showed a lot of tenacity and battled throughout the game to overcome a nine-point deficit and turn it into a seven-point lead,” Rechlicz reflected after the St. Thomas game. “It shows the ability that our team has to work together and have success.” The defeat marked a point of cross-border frustration for the Panthers in facing Saint Thomas. Milwaukee has now fallen to the Tommies in back-to-back seasons. Worse, those games have been decided by a combined five points; St. Thomas beat the Panthers in Cream City by a 67-65 margin on December 7, 2023.
“You never want to start the season off with a loss, but give credit to St. Thomas,” Rechlicz said. “They are a well-coached program with an experienced roster.”
A wild back-and-forth fourth quarter highlighted the Panthers’ eventual loss to Butler, and down the stretch mistakes as well as missed shots led to Milwaukee’s demise. After shooting a blistering 57.5% from the floor and 8/13 from the land of trey through three quarters, the Panthers held a 58-51 advantage. They clunked and clanged away that lead during the fourth quarter, though, finishing 2/15 from the floor over the final stanza plus OT.
“We did a lot of the little things right, especially when the ball wasn’t in our hands, and those aspects were positively impacting the game for us,” Rechlicz added. “We had great moments in those areas…we have to take better care of the basketball down the stretch, we have to be confident and believe that we are good enough to win games.”
Kendall Nead – last year’s leading scorer – and two other major contributors are gone from last year’s team. Kyle Rechlicz spoke this fall about her excitement to see a promising crop of freshmen – redshirt or otherwise – who are set to assume significant responsibility this year. The Panthers’ win over Carroll allowed the team to take a longer look at some key youngsters who will be needed as the season goes on.
Redshirt rookies Izzy Pugh and Payton Rechlicz – the coach’s daughter – have been among the most noticeable newcomers so far. Payton Rechlicz has started each of the team’s first three games after sitting out last year to marinate in Milwaukee’s system. In her first career appearance, Rechlicz the Younger scored 13 points and made all six of her two-point shot attempts. She can play on the wing or crash around inside, and Payton Rechlicz gives the Panthers another good passer in the everyday lineup.
Especially against Carroll – who gave their hosts quite a challenge in the first half – Pugh got a chance to go to work offensively. A post player from New Zealand and likely the most powerful Panther inside, Pugh scored 14 on 6/8 shooting against the Pioneers. Milwaukee didn’t have great scoring depth in the paint last year, and Pugh could become a nice change-of-pace when Lutz or rising sophomore Jorey Buwalda aren’t on the floor. Though she hasn’t been 100% and missed the team’s first two contests, Milwaukee got Buwalda back for a few minutes against Butler. With two post players back in the lineup, the Panthers should be able to take a step or two on the glass going forward.
Milwaukee’s tour of former Horizon League foes continues against Valparaiso this Thursday. Wisconsin native Leah Earnest was named All-Missouri Valley last year and will lead the Beacons back to the Badger state. Then on Sunday, Milwaukee will face the Badgers themselves. On their trip to Madison, the Panthers will be challenged in the post by Carter McCray, who was the Horizon League’s Rookie of the Year last winter while at Northern Kentucky. Milwaukee will host the Beacons at the Klotsche Center at 7pm CT on Thursday, and tip-off is scheduled for 3pm CT Sunday against Wisconsin.
