MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Milwaukee returns to action after a two-week break following a cancellation of the final non-conference game on December 22. The Panthers welcome Detroit Mercy to the Klotsche Center on Thursday for a 7:00 pm tipoff. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ with Matt Menzl on the call. Live stats will also be available with all links available on MKEPanthers.com.
SCOUTING THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy currently sits at 2-9 overall after dropping three straight non-conference matchups. The Titans began the Horizon League schedule 0-2 after falling to Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State opening weekend.
First year head coach Kate Achter brings eight newcomers to join seven returners from a year ago. Senior Imani McNeal leads the way for the Titans, averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Junior Irene Murua has been solid as of late, reaching double figures in five of the last six games. Murua leads the team with 11.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor.
Freshman Amaya Burch has provided a nice spark as well, averaging 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while hitting a team-high 11 three-pointers.
As a team, Detroit has struggled scoring the basketball, ranking 10th in the Horizon League in points per game (56.1) and 11th in field goal percentage (34.7 percent).
The Titans have been strong on the boards, however, ranking second with 41.3 per game.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Four players reached double figures led by Megan Walstad’s 18 points as the Panthers topped Detroit Mercy 71-55 on February 10. McKaela Schmelzer (13 points), Sydney Staver (12), and Macy McGlone (10) also reached double digits.
SERIES HISTORY
Milwaukee holds a 35-28 all-time advantage in the series thanks to winning eight in a row against the Titans. The last Detroit win over MKE was on February 2, 2017.
WHATS ON TAP?
The Panthers remain at home to host Oakland on Saturday, December 31 at 2:00 pm for a New Year’s Celebration.
LAST TIME OUT
The Milwaukee women’s basketball team hung with Minnesota on the road, but the Gophers created separation from the three-point line and handed the Panthers a 75-59 setback on December 14.
Milwaukee owned the rebounding battle 42-31 and scored 30 points in the paint, but the Gophers’nine three-pointers deflated any comeback for the Panthers.
THAT’S WHAT WE NEAD
Kendall Nead has been finding her shooting touch recently, reaching double figures in three of the last four contests including a career-high 18 points against Minnesota on December 14.
Nead finished 6-for-12 from the floor and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line against the Gophers on her way to the new career-high.
Over the last four contests, Nead is shooting 48.7 percent from the floor while averaging 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
FINDING A WAY INSIDE
Emma Wittmerhaus has been the Panthers’ most consistent presence inside this season, averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
The redshirt senior scored 10 points against Minnesota and has reached double digits in four of the last five games and seven games overall this season.
In the win over Green Bay, Wittmershaus recorded the second double-double of her career with 14 points and 11 boards.
The redshirt senior is having a career-year, leading the team in points per game while ranking second in rebounds and field goal percentage (46.6).
A LITTLE BIT FROM EVERYONE
As it stands right now, the Panthers do not have a single player averaging at least 10 points per game but have five players with 6.0 or more per contest.
Emma Wittmershaus leads with 9.7 points per game followed by Kendall Nead and Angie Cera at 8.7 points. Megan Walstad is putting up 6.7 per game while Grace Crowley is averaging 6.3.
The last time Milwaukee did not have at least one player averaging double digits was 2019-20. That year, Brandi Bisping (9.3 ppg) and Lizzie Odegard (9.0 ppg) led the charge for the Panthers.
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.
In the last seven seasons, Milwaukee is 85-25 (.778) when hitting at least 40 percent from the field. Bump that field goal percentage to 43 percent and the Panthers are 65-12 (.844).
When shooting under 40 percent since 2016-17, Milwaukee is just 25-61 (.294).
The Panthers have been held under 40 percent in seven games this year, going 1-6 in those contests.
WELCOME HOME
Milwaukee has a much-needed home game on Thursday. The Panthers have found better success at the Klotsche Center, owning better shooting percentages from all over the court.
The Panthers are also averaging just over seven more points per game at home while holding teams to just 56.8 points on 25.4 percent shooting.
Two of MKE’s three victories have come on its home court as well.
STRONG ON THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
With 14 more offensive rebounds on December 14, Milwaukee now has at least 10 offensive boards in five straight games including 21 against Boise State on November 27, the most since the Panthers had 22 in a 65-68 victory at UIC on January 6, 2022.
MKE is fifth in the Horizon League with 11.4 offensive rebounds per game but is averaging 14.2 over the last five games which would put them second in the league rankings.
ARE YOU CERA-IOUS?
Angie Cera was on fire in the second half against Eastern Illinois on December 22, finishing with a career-high 21 points. The sophomore finished 7-for-15 from the floor and hit four three-pointers.
In the second half alone, Cera went 5-for-10 with three triples for 16 of the Panthers’ 29 points.
Cera is putting together a career-year so far with highs in points (8.7), rebounds (2.2), and assists (1.9). She’s already surpassed her previous career-best with 14 three-pointers this year.
DEFENSE ON LOCK DOWN
Milwaukee has been strong on the defensive end this season, holding the opposition to 60.1 points per game on 38 percent shooting.
MKE is fourth in the Horizon League in points allowed and fifth in opposing field goal percentage. The Panthers also rank third in the league with 3.60 blocks per game, led by Megan Walstad’s 14 swats.
MKE has held the opponent to under 60 points in five different games including a season-low 44 points against UIC on November 16. It is the lowest for an opponent since holding Oakland to 41 points on February 12 last season.
With the Panthers scoring just 43 points in that game, it marks the first time since February 7, 1974 that both teams failed to reach 44 points or more.
ON THE HORIZON
The win over Green Bay marked Milwaukee’s fourth straight year opening the Horizon League schedule with a win. It also improved head coach Kyle Rechlicz‘ record to 7-4 in league openers.
The Panthers have recorded seven straight winning seasons in Horizon League play including a 13-9 mark last year.
GO GET IT, GRACE
Grace Crowley has put together an impressive start to the season after playing limited minutes last season.
This year, Crowley is averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The redshirt sophomore is shooting 61.8 percent from the floor and is 21-for-26 (80.8 percent) from the free throw line. Additionally, Crowley has added 14 assists and eight steals this season.
She’s done all of that off the bench in just 16.0 minutes per game, which is eighth on the team.
PRESEASON HONORS FOR WALSTAD
Megan Walstad was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League First Team following another impressive campaign in 2021-22. Walstad dominated down low, earning her second straight First Team All-League award last season. She led the team and was among the league’s leaders in points per game (14.4), rebounds per game (9.1), field goal percentage (48.8), free throw percentage (88.9), and blocks per game (1.5). Walstad was also named to the All-Defensive Team for the second straight year.
Walstad joined a group of just three others in program history to earn All-League First Team honors on more than one occasion in the Panthers’ Division I era and is just the second in MKE history to earn All-Defensive Team distinction multiple times.
Additionally, Walstad was one of 25 players to be named to the 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year preseason Watch List.
MISS BASKETBALL IN THE HOUSE
Kamy Peppler was crowned 2022 Miss Basketball for Wisconsin but it’s not the first time Milwaukee has had a student-athlete with that title arrive on campus.
In fact, Megan Walstad earned that title in her home state of Minnesota after leading Eastview High School to a perfect 32-0 record as a senior.
Prior to that, just one other player in program history donned the title of Miss Basketball. Meredith Onson (2005-08) was a consensus Wisconsin Player of the year in 2002-03. Onson originally attended Boston University but transfered to Milwaukee for the 2004-05 season.
WBB – FCS: Detroit Mercy Titans (2-9) at Milwaukee Panthers (3-7)
