MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee women's basketball team was efficient on Thursday night, shooting 52 percent from the floor, but could not close an early deficit and fell to IUPUI 71-59 at the Klotsche Center.
"They played a very complete game against us, which I expect," head coach
Kyle Rechlicz commented. "I knew we were going to get their best game and they were hitting on all cylinders."
IUPUI (19-5, 16-3 Horizon League) came out of the gate strong, scoring the first nine points of the game before
Kendall Nead got it rolling off the bench for MKE with a pair of baskets.
The Jaguars opened the gap again, but
Jada Donaldson knocked down a jumper at the end of the first to cut it to 17-12.
A pair of three-pointers in the second pushed IUPUI's lead to eight before the Jaguars exploded in the third quarter.
The Jaguars could not miss out of the half, going 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from the floor and 4-for-5 from three-point range.
Milwaukee (11-14, 10-8 Horizon League) had its own scoring burst of 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting (56.3 percent) but the four IUPUI triples were the difference as the Panthers faced a 15-point deficit heading to the fourth.
MKE was once again lights out from the floor in the fourth, shooting 57.1 percent but each time the Panthers cut into the deficit, IUPUI had an answer.
Megan Walstad scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half to propel the Panthers and added four rebounds, five assists, and five blocks.
Nead provided a nice spark for MKE, matching a career-high with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
"Kendall has this ability to be a dynamic scorer," Rechlicz continued. "It was nice to see her get confidence and get her feet under. I thought she was very communicative as well."
The Jaguars were led by 27 points from Macee Williams and 16 from Rachel McLimore.
The Panthers next prep for UIC as they host the annual Senior Day celebration. Tipoff against the Flames is at 2:00 pm with the ceremony to follow
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