By Annie Walker

3 7 2024

DAYTON – The four seed Wright State women’s basketball team will host number five seed Milwaukee for the Horizon League Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 6. The game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip off, with tickets available online. The game will stream on ESPN+ with live stats available as well.

GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, March 6 – 5:30 p.m. – Tickets – Watch – Live Stats – WSU Game Notes

LAST TIME OUT
After taking an early lead, Wright State defeated Detroit Mercy, 66-56, solidifying their No. 4 seed in the Horizon league.

Alexis Hutchison led the way for Wright State, putting up 22 points and four steals on the day. Following was Kacee Baumhower with 16 points, four steals, and three assists. Layne Ferrell led the team with nine rebounds, three blocks, and three steals, as she totaled nine points. Rachel Loobie was another standout rebounder, grabbing seven rebounds, six of which were defensive.

Wright State shot 35.8 percent overall (19-of-53) shooting 30.4 percent from beyond the arc (7-of-23). Going 7-of-7 on the line in the third, the Raiders finished 21-of-29 for free throws (72.4 percent).

HOW THEY ARE STACKING UP
Heading into post-season play, the Raiders are seeded No. 4 in the Horizon League, earning a bye in the HL tournament.

The Raiders are looking up at Cleveland State (18-2) , followed by Green Bay (17-3). Purdue Fort Wayne takes the third spot, going 13-7 in the HL. Moving on from the first round of the HL tournament is No. 6 Detroit Mercy and No. 7 Youngstown State. They will be competing at Purdue Fort Wayne and Green Bay, respectively.

The winners of the quarterfinal matchups will move on to the semifinals on Monday, March 11 in the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

KNOW THE FOE
–  Milwaukee is currently 16-15 overall, and 10-10 in the Horizon League, while going 7-7 on the road.
–  Kendall Nead leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 14 points per game, sitting sixth in the HL. She sits tenth in the HL shooting 40.6 percent from the floor. Nead is No. 52 nationally and second in the HL with 424 field goal attempts on the season.
–  Alongside Nead is sophomore Kamy Peppler, leading the team averaging 2.0 three-pointers per game, ranking fourth in the HL. She is third in the HL and No. 90 nationally with 63 field goals made this season. Peppler ranks No. 45 nationally and second in the HL with 4.9 assists per game, and ties for 12 in the HL with 1.4 steals.
–  Redshirt-Sophomore Anna Lutz leads the team with 6.0 rebounds per game (14 HL), and with seven blocks per game (T-11 HL).

QUICK HITTERS
– Alexis Hutchison leads the HL with an 19.1 points/game scoring average, she also leads in HL contests with 19.2 points/game.
– The Raiders have two of the top five FT shooters in the HL, led by Kacee Baumhower at 85.1 %, with Alexis Hutchison sitting fourth shooting 81.7%.
– Wright State is second in the HL in three-pointers made per game (7.9) and leads in team free throw percentage (78.6%).

ALEXIS HUTCHISON-HORIZON LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
On March 4, Alexis Hutchison was named a Horizon League first team selection. The graduate guard started all 31 regular season contests for the Raiders, averaging 19.1 points per game, tops in the Horizon League and is a Top 35 mark nationally. She’s averaging 34.9 minutes per game with 1,082 total minutes played, both the best in the Horizon League and a Top 100 mark nationally. Hutchison is shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, No. 9 in the Horizon League, while shooting 31.4 percent from three-point range with 59 made triples. Her 521 total field goal attempts are ranked No. 9 nationally, with her 215 field goals made No. 22 in the country entering the postseason. She’s averaging 3.2 assists per night, Top 5 in the Horizon, with multiple assists in 26 games and has five or more assists seven games.

SETTING THE WAY
Wright State currently has 11 Horizon League victories this season, the most HL wins the Raiders’ have had under head coach Kari Hoffman. Five of the Raiders’ six HL wins a season ago came after January 28, while they also added a road victory in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament on the road against Oakland.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING
Wright State is No. 11 nationally with its 78.6 percent Free Throw Percentage. Kacee Baumhower’s 85.1 free throw percentage is No. 49 nationally.  Alexis Hutchison is No. 18 nationally with 592 total points scored while her 19.1 points/game mark is No. 35. Hutchison’s 521 field goal attempts are No. 10 nationally with her 215 field goals made No. 24.

COURTESY WRIGHT STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS