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Play-by-Play: Joey Hayes
Color: Gavin Smilowski
Studio: Kaylah Snell
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies women’s basketball team falls to the visiting Milwaukee Panthers at the OU Credit Union O’rena. The final score was 67-51.Â
Oakland came into this game off a dominant win against crosstown rival Detroit Mercy, in a game where Oakland shot the best they had to that point in the Horizon League. They forced the Titans to shoot just 35% from the field and did their best to limit Detroit Mercy from getting rebounds right off the glass. With a statement win in their pocket, they hoped to go against Milwaukee with some energy and fire.
Milwaukee came into the O’rena brandishing a three-game win streak. They were able to stave off the Northern Kentucky Norse in Highland Heights and were able to keep the energy going at home in their next two against Youngstown State and Robert Morris.
The game started off tight, with Milwaukee keeping the edge, but Oakland trying their best to make something of the vast amount of shots they took in the first. Oakland played clean and only had two turnovers, but just couldn’t take the lid off the rim. Eventually, the Panthers settled into their offense, getting the ball into forwards Anna Lutz and Jorey Buwalda. Both Lutz and Buwalda led the charge that helped them pull away from the Grizzlies heading into the second quarter.Â
The Grizzlies’ offensive woes carried into the second quarter, and again had trouble containing Milwaukee’s offense. Coach Kyle Rechlicz game-planned to put the basketball into Buwalda’s and Lutz’s hands, and Oakland was neither able to come up with a solution nor a response. Oakland tried to play physical, but got into hot water with the number of fouls they were accumulating. Milwaukee held the advantage 36-18 going into the second half.Â
Oakland’s offense gradually became productive coming out of the halftime break. They stopped shooting the three with as much frequency as in the first, and they were able to overwhelm Milwaukee’s paint defense with dribble drives from guards and forwards. Their inability to shoot the ball as efficiently, coupled with the Panthers stretching the floor, allowed Milwaukee to answer every basket. Oakland was able to outscore Milwaukee, and shrank the lead to 12 going into the fourth quarter.
Oakland’s offense went back to trying to get points in chunks, and it wasn’t enough to overcome Milwaukee’s late-game onslaught of points. Alexis Johnson was taken out of the game by Milwaukee’s defense, and the loss of Markiya McCormick to injury hurt Oakland’s chances to score from beyond the arc. Ultimately, Oakland couldn’t do enough to overcome an extremely slow start to the game, and Milwaukee snagged a dominant road victory.
Alexis Johnson and Brooke Quarles-Daniels led Oakland in scoring with 13 points each, and Linda van Schaik totaled an even 8. For the Panthers, Anna Lutz scored an unbelievable 24 points, while Angie Cera, Kendall Nead, and Joey Buwalda each totaled 9.
Milwaukee improves to 10-9 overall, and 5-4 on the season. They’ll get their turn at Irene Murua and the Detroit Mercy Titans. Oakland drops to 7-9 overall, and 3-5 on the season. They’ll have a difficult challenge ahead of them on Saturday, January 20th, as they prepare to take on the Green Bay Phoenix at the OU Credit Union O’rena.
WXOU’s next broadcast will be Saturday, January 20th, covering the women’s basketball team ve Green Bay. Joey Hayes and Noah Stalker will be on the call, and Giovanni Moceri will be in the studio. Don’t miss the action!