UWM women’s basketball schedule and preview

“This year we’re going to play fast-paced basketball,” said head coach Kyle Rechlicz, who is entering her 13th season as head coach. “We are really picking up speed in the practices.”

A big focus of the team this year is limiting turnover.

“We turned the ball over too quickly last year to be successful,” said Rechlicz.

Another focus of the season is fixing gaps in the defense.

“We feel like we’re more athletic defensively than ever before this year,” Rechlicz said. “We really want to push to be… the best defensive team in the league. That’s a goal for us.”

This year’s squad combines an experienced core with a young and talented contingent. The Panthers’ returning leading scorer is junior Kamy Peppler, who averaged 11.5 points per game last season.

Peppler ranked second in assists during the Horizon League season, collecting 153. Peppler and senior guard Jada Donaldson combined for 248 assists as backcourt players last year, which led the Panthers to reach the national assist rankings a year ago.

Her outstanding sophomore season earned her a spot on the 2024-25 Horizon League Preseason All-League Team.

“We have a core group of five veterans who just played a lot of minutes in the Horizon League,” Rechlicz said. “Then you look at our next five and they are very young but extremely talented.”

The Panthers will have to move forward without their leading scorer from last season, Kendall Nead, who averaged 13.8 points per game. Angie Cera, who scored 9.6 points per game, also graduated.

Milwaukee struck gold when they acquired Kacee Baumhower in the transfer portal from conference foe Wright State.

Baumhower finished in the top five in assists and top ten in goals and minutes in the Horizon League last year. The Ohio native averaged 12.5 points per game for the Raiders last season.

“She’s a little different than Kendall and Angie – the ball really moves with her,” Rechlicz said. “She’s very support-oriented and points-oriented.”

Until recently, broadcasting within the conference was considered taboo.

“Especially during the COVID period, four years ago, you didn’t hear about it, there just weren’t people moving within the league,” Rechlicz said. “Now that the transfer portal is open, it’s happening a little more frequently.”

Young striker Anna Lutz is one of the newcomers who wants to grow as a leader this season.

“I’m trying to expand my leadership position in the team,” said Lutz. “I just continue to try to gain respect from my teammates and do my best as a leader.”

The Panthers are keeping their goals high for the season.

“The ultimate goal is to play in the NCAA Tournament,” Rechlicz said.

The Panthers season begins November 4th at St. Thomas, Minnesota. Their home opener is scheduled for November 6th at 6 p.m. against Carroll at the Klotsche Center.

Carroll is one of four in-state opponents – the schedule also includes defending Horizon League champion Green Bay Phoenix, which travels to Milwaukee on December 11th and hosts Milwaukee on February 22nd.

The Panthers travel to Madison to face Wisconsin on November 17th. Their intracity rivalry with Marquette will be renewed on December 15th at the Al McGuire Center – both games begin at 2 p.m

The Panthers most recently defeated Wisconsin in 2021-22 and Marquette in 2020-21.

Their non-conference schedule includes a late November trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they will face the American (Washington, DC) and Air Force teams.

“I’m looking forward to playing against new teams that we haven’t seen yet and maybe a different style of basketball,” Rechlicz said. “But I think I’m more excited about the team building we’re going to do out there.”

Rechlicz plans for the team to enjoy the final day of their journey away from basketball and allow players to interact off the court.

Horizon League play begins Dec. 4 with a trip east to face Youngstown St. and Robert Morris.

“We want to see in the non-conference if we can compare to a Green Bay, a Cleveland State (preseason No. 1) or a PFW (Purdue Fort-Wayne),” Rechlicz said. “And look how we play against them.”

The Big East’s Butler and Big 12’s Kansas State are also among the UWM women’s basketball team’s 11 non-conference opponents as they prepare for the Horizon League portion of their schedule.

“It’s the closest team we’ve had in the last four or five years,” Rechlicz said. “It’s going to be an exciting year.”