Milwaukee City Wire

Kendall Nead achieved a significant milestone in her basketball career by scoring her 1,000th point as the Milwaukee Panthers secured a win over Detroit Mercy Titans with a score of 61-55. The victory propels Milwaukee to a position above Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League standings, marking an essential step as they approach the final games of the regular season.

Head coach Kyle Rechlicz emphasized the importance of this win, stating, "Everyone is bunched together in the standings. This win was so critical for us … we came out with a ton of energy after a great week of practice."

Milwaukee's performance included connecting on 43.1 percent from the field, supported by key contributions from players like Angie Cera and Jorey Buwalda. Cera led with 19 points, while Buwalda contributed significantly in rebounds and scored all her points in the first half. Coach Rechlicz praised Buwalda's performance: "Jorey was a monster in the first half."

Nead reached her career milestone with an elbow three-pointer during the second period, becoming only the 23rd player in program history to achieve such a feat.

Despite trailing at halftime and facing a deficit midway through the third quarter, Milwaukee managed to regain control with strategic plays and ended strong. Rechlicz noted their resilience: "I loved how we battled... our effort, intensity, and adjustments helped us turn it around in the second half."

In crucial moments during the fourth quarter, Cera stepped up by scoring critical points including two decisive three-pointers. Her efforts were complemented by Nead's timely mid-range shot which helped secure their lead.

The game concluded with Cera securing free throws under pressure, finishing perfect from the line and leading Milwaukee to victory. Coach Rechlicz commended both Nead and Cera: "Give a lot of credit to Angie [Cera] and Kendall [Nead]. They put us on their back at the end of the game when we needed makes and free throws."

Milwaukee now prepares for another important match against Oakland as they aim to strengthen their standing within the league.