CHICAGO, Ill. – Behind a career-high 14 points from Angie Cera and timely baskets down the stretch, the Milwaukee women's basketball team earned a 65-58 victory against UIC on Thursday evening.
 
"I'm really proud of our team for coming out with energy," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "I thought we were focused on the scout and the game plan. I was proud of our team for coming in and being resilient and finding a way to win this game."
 
Cera finished the game with 14 points, including nine in the second quarter, and added four rebounds and three steals in the win.
 
"She's been shooting really well in practice. It does not surprise me that this game happened," Rechlicz continued. "I could feel it was coming. She's got a level of toughness and that includes stuff not even on the stat sheet. I'm really proud of her."
 
Milwaukee (6-8, 5-2 Horizon League) found its range early, going 4-for-9 from three in a fast-paced first quarter to pull in front 20-16 after one.
 
Cera stepped up in the second, scoring the first nine points of the quarter for the Panthers to get MKE up double digits. The lead reached 14 on a jumper from Kendall Nead before the Flames began to chip away at the free throw line.
 
UIC (2-8, 1-4 Horizon League) cut it to four before Sydney Staver knocked down a pull-up to put the Panthers in control 40-34 at the half.
 
Free throws continued to be a driving factor for the Flames after the break as UIC outscored MKE 9-1at the charity stripe in the third to cut the gap to five.
 
In the fourth, the Panthers' lead was trimmed to two on multiple occasions but each time, MKE responded. A UIC free throw against had the home team within a pair but Cera once again came up big.
 
The Mukwonago, Wis. native made a nice cut to the hoop and converted a layup to put Milwaukee up 62-58 with 1:16 to play.
 
A late Miquela Santoro free throw then had Milwaukee up five with eight seconds to play before a steal and fast break layup by Megan Walstad iced the victory.
 
Behind an important stretch of seven points in the third, Santoro joined Cera in double figures with 13. The graduate added three assists and a pair of steals in the win.
 
McKaela Schmelzer led the Panthers in rebounding for the second straight game, pulling in eight boards to go with eight points, an assist, and three steals.
 
MKE owned a 43-34 advantage on the glass including dominating the offensive boards 22-4.
 
Milwaukee will next head to IUPUI for a 1:00 pm CT contest on Saturday, January 8 from The Jungle.
 
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