UWM Falls Short in Horizon League Semifinals

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Struggling to put the ball through the net, the UWM women’s basektball team (19-7,15-5 Horizon) lost 56-46 to IUPUI (15-4,11-3) in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament on Monday afternoon in Indianapolis.  

The loss put an end to a season that had seen Milwaukee tie for first place in the Horizon League regular season.  

“I’m proud of our team. I couldn’t be more proud actually,” said UWM head coach Kyle Rechlicz. “I know we came up short but everything we did, the tenacity they played with, the energy, from top to bottom, everybody gave everything they had.”  

The Panthers couldn’t buy a bucket in the first quarter, shooting 3-for-12 from the field and 1-for-8 from three. Seven Milwaukee turnovers and a six-minute scoring drought got UWM into a 16-7 hole after the first period.  

Sydney Staver of UWM snapped the scoring drought at the buzzer, ending IUPUI’s 10-0 run, but the Panthers would be chasing the game from then on.   

UWM’s Sydney Staver looks for a teammate in Monday’s 56-46 loss to IUPUI in the Horizon League semifinals (Courtesy: Horizon League).

The shooting struggles continued for both teams in the second quarter.  

IUPUI and UWM combined for more turnovers (8) in the quarter than made field goals (6).  

At the halftime mark, the Panthers were shooting 20% from the field and 14% from three with 10 total turnovers.  The top free-throw percentage shooting team in Division 1 this season, UWM had no foul shots in the entire first half.  

IUPUI opened the second half on an 8-2 run led by Rachel McLimore’s shooting and Macee Williams dominant inside presence.  

A pair of free throws from Bre Cera, a three from Brandi Bisping and back-to-back baskets from Emma Wittmershaus brought the Panthers within 11.  

UWM limited turnovers and were finally able to knock down some shots but trailed by 12 entering the fourth quarter and never got any closer than eight points.

Although the team struggled, Bisping had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, knocking down all three of Milwaukee’s 3-pointers in the game.  

Wittmershaus also had a stellar game, scoring 10 points off the bench.  

Horizon League first-teamer Megan Walstad struggled, scoring her first basket with five minutes left in the contest, and finished with six points.  

Milwaukee never led in the game and finished shooting 28% from the field and 12% from behind the arc.