The NKU women’s basketball team started a three-game homestand on a cold Thursday evening, facing off against the Milwaukee Panthers.

As the snow flurried outside, fans started to flurry in for the Golden Ticket Night, which is showing appreciation to NKU students by giving out prizes. 

The hype grew as the buzzer sounded. Fans found their seats, the referee threw the ball up, the Panthers’ Anna Lutz tipped the ball back to Kamy Peppler and the action was under way.

The Norse were the first to score. After four minutes of play, Mya Meredith made a three-pointer to give them the early 3-0 lead.

Another minute went by and Milwaukee finally got on the board. After going scoreless for five minutes, Panthers’ Jada Donaldson was able to respond back with a three-pointer of her own, tying up the game at three.

After some back-and-forth play and free throws were made by both teams, the game was tied again at seven. NKU’s Macey Blevins would respond, breaking the tie. Blevins and Halle Idowu ran some high-low action. As Blevins found Idowu near the free throw line, she kicked it right back to Blevins for a three that hit nothing but net, extending the game to 10-7.

Milwaukee was not going away, cutting NKU’s lead to just one point with a made layup by Jada Williams. NKU’s Abby Wolterman responded back with a huge three-point basket, moving the game to 13-9.

Once again, Milwaukee kept coming back. After another made basket by Wolterman and a made basket by the Panthers’ Jorey Buwalda. NKU was leading by two with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.

NKU was looking for a score, and Wolterman stepped up in a huge way. Blevins found an open Wolterman as the play broke down. The pass was made and Wolterman with no one around her cashed in. She hit a three, giving NKU an 18-13 lead to end the first quarter.

The Norse came out hot just 30 seconds into the second quarter. Meredith made a three, but Milwaukee was quick to respond with a made layup by Lutz, inching their way into NKU’s six point lead, 21-15.

More made baskets by the Panthers had the Norse slowing down. The game was tied at 25 after a made layup by the panthers’ Buwalda.

This quarter alone saw four different lead changes. NKU’s Meredith ended the quarter with fashion. After she missed her pull-up jumper, she got her own rebound putting it back up, making the layup, giving NKU the 34-32 lead going into halftime. She scored five straight points to end the quarter.

Halftime came and went, and NKU was out of the tunnel quickly, hyped up for the second half of play.

The Norse started the third quarter on a 5-0 run, sparked by a hard fought layup down low by Idowu. Blevins also made a three-pointer on the fast break, off a Meredith steal on the defensive end, pushing the game to 39-32.

Once again, Milwaukee climbed back going on a 4-0 run, cutting the game back within three.

With some more back-and-forth play with each team going on little runs, the game was 46-38.

NKU would push the game to double digits off a made layup by Idowu, but the Panthers would respond right back with a layup of their own. However, NKU pushed right back even harder, as Blevins was on the right wing, passed it to Idowu, who was at the free-throw line, then kicked it right to Jaci Jones for a wide open three to give the Norse it’s biggest lead of the night at 51-40.

Milwaukee would end the quarter with a great layup by Lutz, however they still were trailing 54-46.

The fourth quarter was tough for NKU, only making one field goal, which came 15 seconds into the quarter with a layup by Meredith.

Milwaukee clawed their way right back into this game going on a 9-0 run, sparked by a Peppler layup. Next was Lutz’s turn. She showcased her size, going right at Wolterman as she drove to the hole, keeping the ball high she hooked the ball right over Wolterman’s head. The last score of the run came from Donaldson who dribbled across the paint, scooping and scoring over NKU, crushing NKU’s lead to just 57-55.

With about a minute to go, Milwaukee played the foul game but lost. The Norse iced the game  making 7-8 free-throws winning the game 66-62.

After the game, Coach Hans talked about the battle between NKU and Milwaukee.

“I feel like Milwaukee and us have been in a lot of close games all year long. That’s how it’s going to be, no matter what,” Hans said.

The last three matchups where NKU faced off against Milwaukee has been decided by a combined eight points.

Wolterman also talked about her five offensive rebounds and how she finds the ball.

“Rebounding has been something I focused on. When I focus on my rebounding, that’s when points start to come and good things happen for my team. If I can get a second chance opportunity, I just pursue the ball. I’m going to get it, especially when it’s a tight game… it builds to the next play to the defense,” Wolterman said.

The Norse’s season is starting to look bright, as the ship is docked at home for their second game of the three-game homestand. NKU will take on the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Saturday at 1 p.m.. This game will be broadcast on ESPN+.