The Milwaukee women’s basketball team faced a challenging game against the No. 10 Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum, resulting in a 111-46 defeat. The Wildcats showcased their strength with six players scoring in double figures. Ayoka Lee led the team with 25 points, hitting 11 of her 15 shots. Zyanna Walker was close to achieving a triple-double, contributing 13 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Kansas State demonstrated strong shooting skills by making 60 percent of their attempts while limiting Milwaukee to just over 30 percent.
Milwaukee’s head coach Kyle Rechlicz expressed pride in his team’s effort against a formidable opponent like Ayoka Lee. “I’m proud of our post players for not backing down to the challenge of defending Ayoka Lee, who’s one of the best players in the country,” he said.
For Milwaukee, Jorey Buwalda scored eight points and Kacee Baumhower added seven, including her career’s 100th three-pointer during the third quarter. Sophia Rampulla contributed six points with two three-pointers, and Jada Donaldson added five points.
On defense, Izzy Pugh and Payton Rechlicz each secured three rebounds. Rampulla provided two assists for the Panthers, while Kallie Peppler recorded two steals and Pugh made three blocks.
Coach Rechlicz praised his team’s determination despite the loss: “I felt like we played very hard and did not quit,” he stated. “We had a mindset of moving on from one segment and re-focusing onto the next segment of the game. This game wasn’t lost because of our lack of effort.”
Kansas State started strong with an initial lead of ten unanswered points and maintained control throughout, leading by 54-18 at halftime before adding another 57 points in the second half.
Milwaukee is set to play Northern Illinois next Sunday afternoon at Klotsche Center.
