MILWAUKEE, Wis.  – Angie Cera scored a career-high 21 points, but a late comeback fell just short as the Milwaukee women's basketball team dropped a 51-45 contest to Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.
 
"I don't know why we can't translate the offense from practice to games. We're a really good defensive team, but you have to put the ball in the basket to win," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said.
 
Cera knocked down a career-high four three-pointers and finished 7-for-15 from the floor. The sophomore did most of her damage in the second half with 16 points after the break.
 
"She was a huge bright spot," Rechlicz said of Cera. "She really locked into her shot in the second half. Our team did a great job to find her because she had the hot hand."
 
Eastern Illinois (7-2) pushed its lead to as much as 10 in the third period, but the Panthers (3-6) did not go away.
 
Cera connected on a three-pointer and jumper to make it a two-point game before a late EIU jumper had the visitor's up four through three periods.
 
After a layup and free throw pushed the deficit back to seven, Emma Wittmershaus and Cera combined for an 8-0 run to give Milwaukee its first lead of the game at 36-35 with 6:27 to play.
 
EIU responded, however, rattling off six straight points to regain the advantage. Cera continued to shoulder the load, getting a shot-clock-buzzer beater and-one to fall to make it 43-41 but another push from EIU put MKE in a 47-41 hole with under a minute to play.
 
From there, EIU hit free throws down the stretch and fended off the MKE comeback.
 
Kendall Nead added eight points on 4-for-8 shooting while Wittmershaus had seven points and six rebounds.
 
Defense was the story early on as Milwaukee shot just 24 percent in the first half compared to 32.1 for Eastern Illinois as EIU pulled ahead 22-16 going into the locker room.
 
The Panthers could not find the range, going 1-for-11 from deep before the break and 5-for-22 overall.
 
EIU also held a 40-33 advantage on the boards including 13 on the offensive end.
 
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