Milwaukee women’s basketball ended its 2025-26 regular season with an overtime loss to IU Indy, 80-77, at home on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers trailed at halftime but mounted a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Jaguars 21-7 and erasing a nine-point deficit. Despite this effort, IU Indy responded with 25 points in the fourth quarter and forced overtime by holding Milwaukee to 20 points in that period.
During overtime, both teams exchanged leads four times. IU Indy secured the win late in the session, helped by five points from Sydney Bolden. Destini Craig led the Jaguars with 20 points and eight rebounds. Olivia Smith contributed 11 points and Hailey Smith added 10.
For Milwaukee, Sophia Rampulla scored a career-high 18 points. Grace Lomen finished with 17 points and was recognized after the game as part of Senior Day celebrations. Jorey Buwalda had 10 points and collected nine rebounds for the Panthers.
IU Indy established control early, shooting over 51 percent from the field in the first half and making seven of ten free throws. The Jaguars led after each of the first two quarters while limiting Milwaukee’s shooting percentage to under 36 percent overall and just two made three-pointers out of ten attempts.
Milwaukee opened the third quarter with nine unanswered points to tie the score at 36 before extending their run to take a lead into the final period. The Panthers held their advantage until late in regulation when Payton Rechlicz tied it at 68 with a three-pointer near the end of regulation time.
In overtime, Milwaukee scored first but could not maintain its lead as IU Indy tied it up again with less than two minutes left. A basket by Hailey Smith gave IU Indy a multi-possession lead before Lomen narrowed it from the free throw line with under three seconds remaining. After another foul sent Bolden to shoot free throws, she converted one attempt for an 80-77 margin; Milwaukee recovered possession but did not get off another shot before time expired.
Rampulla’s performance marked her best scoring output so far this season. Rita Gomes added twelve points for Milwaukee while Jada Williams scored eight.
The Panthers will play again Monday against Detroit Mercy Titans in the Play-In Round of the Barbasol Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship at 7:00 p.m.
The Milwaukee Panthers women’s basketball team is part of NCAA Division I competition within the Horizon League and represents University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee athletics throughout conference and non-conference games each season.
