INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Milwaukee women's basketball team charged late but could not make up a double-digit deficit and fell 64-55 to IUPUI on Monday evening.
 
Offensive droughts at the end of both the first and third periods hurt the Panthers as the Jaguars pulled in front by 13 heading into the final period.
 
"Our goal was to take away their individual strengths and we just didn't do it. It comes down to the fact that we didn't finish in the paint and they did," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "We got our shots, but we have to make sure we're finishing. We are struggling to put the ball in the basket on the road."
 
Milwaukee (3-5, 1-1 Horizon League) could not have asked for a better start to the game, going 4-for-4 from the floor to open an 11-2 lead. Emma Wittmershaus converted a layup for a 15-6 advantage before the Jaguars stormed back.
 
IUPUI (4-4, 1-1 Horizon League) rattled off a 13-2 run to end the period and pull in front 19-17. The lead reached six before Milwaukee broke the drought with a jumper from Grace Crowley at 7:17 in the second.
 
Jessi Giles buried a triple to cut the deficit to 29-27 with 1:06 to play in the half, but the Jaguars finished with a pair of and-ones to make it 35-27 at the half.
 
In the third, MKE was held to 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) shooting and IUPUI used an 11-2 spurt over the final 5:33 of the quarter for a double-digit lead entering the fourth.
 
Angie Cera and Kendall Nead combined for 10 points and sparked a Milwaukee run which whittled down the IUPUI lead to just five, but the Jaguars hit two free throws with 29 seconds remaining to seal it.
 
"I thought our starters, defensively, was our best rotation," Rechlicz said. "Our bench needs to get better defensively. We need those players to step up. We trust them and know they are capable just need to lock in and make sure it happens."
 
Nead led three in double figures with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting. The sophomore added five rebounds and two assists.
 
Cera hit a pair of three-pointers and finished with 10 points and three steals while Wittmershaus totaled 11 points and four boards.
 
The Panthers will now return to the Klotsche Center to host Eastern Illinois on Saturday, December 10 at 2:00 pm.
 
Follow along this season with the Panthers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.