FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — The Wright State Raiders used a dominant first quarter to seize control and never looked back, defeating the Milwaukee Panthers 77-55 in a Horizon League women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The most important part of the game was its opening segment, where Wright State established a decisive and ultimately insurmountable advantage. The Raiders, fueled by an explosive offensive performance and disruptive defense, outscored Milwaukee 25-14 in the first quarter. This early surge set the tone for the entire contest, as the Panthers spent the remaining three quarters attempting, and failing, to mount a significant comeback.

Wright State’s early success was a product of efficient scoring and capitalizing on Milwaukee’s mistakes. The Raiders connected on four 3-pointers in the opening period, two from Lauren Scott, and converted Milwaukee turnovers into easy scoring opportunities. This combination overwhelmed the Panthers from the outset. By the time the first-quarter horn sounded on a Rylee Sagester 3-pointer, assisted by Ellie Magestro-Kennedy with 35 seconds left, Wright State had built an 11-point lead and full command of the game’s momentum.

The Raiders extended their lead to 42-23 by halftime, showcasing a balanced attack. Scott, a 5-foot-7 guard from Worthington, Ohio, led all scorers with 15 points. Claire Henson of Germantown, Ohio, provided 14 points and a game-high seven assists, orchestrating the offense with precision. Sagester, from West Alexandria, Ohio, and Breezie Williams of Canton, Ohio, each added 14 points, while Magestro-Kennedy of Stoughton, Wisconsin, chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Milwaukee, which had defeated Wright State 75-70 just over two weeks prior on its home floor, could not replicate that performance. The Panthers struggled with ball security throughout the night, committing turnovers that Wright State converted into 19 points. Milwaukee managed only five points off Wright State’s miscues.

Grace Lomen, a 5-10 guard from East Troy, Wisconsin, led Milwaukee with 15 points. Cece McNair, a 6-2 forward from Prior Lake, Minnesota, contributed 12 points and a blocked shot. Jorey Buwalda of Randolph, Wisconsin, added 11 points. The Panthers’ offense was inconsistent, scoring only nine points in the second quarter, which allowed Wright State to pull away decisively.

After halftime, Milwaukee showed a brief spark, outscoring Wright State 19-12 in the third quarter behind eight points from Lomen to cut the deficit to 54-42. However, the Raiders responded emphatically in the final period, reopening a 23-point lead and cruising to the finish. Wright State’s defense held firm, and its offense rediscovered its rhythm with a 23-point fourth quarter to seal the victory.

With the win, Wright State improved its season record to 10-18 overall. Milwaukee fell to 8-20. An announced crowd of 1,269 watched the game.

The victory gave Wright State a measure of revenge for its loss in Milwaukee earlier in the season and provided a positive send-off for its final regular-season home game. The Raiders will conclude their regular season with three road games, beginning Saturday at Northern Kentucky. Milwaukee, mired in a four-game losing streak, will look to regroup Saturday at in-state rival Green Bay.