Milwaukee secured a decisive 77-49 victory against North Dakota in Horizon League women’s basketball action on Thursday opening up a commanding early lead and never looking back.
The Panthers controlled the tempo from the opening tip at the Kohl Center, asserting themselves on both ends of the court to claim their first win of the season. Tierney Madigan led the offensive charge with 13 points and 9 rebounds, setting the tone as Milwaukee surged ahead early in the contest.
North Dakota struggled to find an offensive rhythm against a tight Panthers defense, shooting just 35.4% from the field overall and 13.0% from beyond the arc. Jayda Maves paced the Fighting Hawks with 14 points, sinking 8 of 10 free throw attempts, but the visitors were unable to overcome Milwaukee’s dominant first-half performance.
Milwaukee seized control immediately, putting up 9 points in the first 90 seconds. Madison Fitzgibbon knocked down a deep three-pointer at the 8:32 mark to extend the lead to 5-0, assisted by Payton Rechlicz. Moments later, Madigan connected on a fastbreak three-pointer to make it 8-0, forcing North Dakota to burn an early timeout.
The Panthers maintained their relentless pressure throughout the opening quarters, shooting 64.29% in the first period and 61.54% in the second. Rita Gomes scored 12 points off the bench, including a three-pointer in the second quarter that extended the lead to 18-8. By halftime, Milwaukee had built a comfortable cushion, fueled by sharp ball movement and active perimeter defense.
North Dakota attempted to claw back after the break, finding some success in the paint and getting to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, where they shot 70.00%. Maves and London Harris worked to stabilize the Fighting Hawks’ offense, with Harris chipping in 8 points and 3 rebounds over 24 minutes of play.
However, North Dakota’s perimeter shooting remained ice cold throughout the evening, finishing the game with just 3 made three-pointers on 23 attempts. Milwaukee capitalized on the missed opportunities, converting defensive rebounds into transition points and maintaining a double-digit lead through the final whistle.
| Team | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr | Total FG | Total PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 9-14 (64.29%) | 8-13 (61.54%) | 6-16 (37.50%) | 4-18 (22.22%) | 27-61 (44.3%) | 77 |
| North Dakota | 4-12 (33.33%) | 4-14 (28.57%) | 2-12 (16.67%) | 7-10 (70.00%) | 17-48 (35.4%) | 49 |
Deep bench contributions helped Milwaukee pull away decisively. Izzy Pugh added 8 points, going 6-for-8 from the charity stripe, while Sophia Rampulla and Kendall Barnes added 7 points each. The Panthers dominated the boards with 46 total rebounds compared to North Dakota’s 25, while also recording 16 assists on 27 made field goals.
For North Dakota, Aliyah Green grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds to go along with 3 points, and Lauren Hillesheim chipped in 6 points off the bench. The Fighting Hawks committed 13 turnovers, which Milwaukee turned into extra possessions.
North Dakota will seek to regroup as it looks to bounce back within the Summit League standings.
