STOCKTON, Calif. – A late 15-2 run by Milwaukee in the fourth quarter was not enough to complete the comeback, as the Panthers fell to UC Davis, 81-72, at the Alex G. Spanos Center as part of the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off.
 
Rita Gomes knocked down three three-pointers to fuel the rally, but the deficit proved too much to overcome after the Aggies opened the game with eight first-quarter triples.
 
Gomes finished the game with nine points, while Milwaukee was led by Jorey Buwalda, who scored 19. Tierney Madigan had her second straight double-digit performance with 13 points and paced the Panthers with nine rebounds and four steals.

UC Davis hit its first eight field goals from beyond the arc while building a 26-11 lead after the opening period. Milwaukee closed to within 10 in the second quarter behind baskets from Grace Lomen and Madigan but could not get any closer, trailing 41-30 at halftime.
 
The Aggies extended their advantage in the third quarter and led by as many as 22 before a six-point Milwaukee burst made it 65-49. A last-second UC Davis bucket sent the Panthers into the fourth trailing 67-49.

"We played two teams this weekend that came out shooting hot," said head coach Kyle Rechlicz. "I thought we were much more aggressive today and played the style of basketball that we are looking to play offensively." 

Down by 20 with 5:38 left, Gomes hit a three from the left wing to spark an 11-0 run, which included a layup by Buwalda and back-to-back threes by Gomes to cut the deficit to 75-66.

"We did not drop our heads when we got down early, and it was nice to see us battle back in the fourth quarter against their starters," added Rechlicz.

 

After an Aggies basket, Jada Williams scored and Madigan hit two free throws to bring Milwaukee within seven at 77-70. But UC Davis sealed the game at the line, making four straight free throws before a late basket from Buwalda brought her total to 19.

"Jorey really stepped up and finished big for us in the paint. I thought she really took what we said as coaches from the previous game and applied it," Rechlicz said. "Tierney was also a huge bright spot off the bench … it's really starting to click for her, and I think she is going to have some big games for us in the near future."
 
Six different Aggies hit multiple threes, including Ryann Bennett and Megan Norris with three apiece. UC Davis finished 16-for-30 from long range (53.3 percent) and shot 52.9 percent overall. Milwaukee shot 40.0 (26-of-64), including 7-for-28 from deep.
 
The Panthers committed just 12 turnovers while forcing 19 from UC Davis, converting those into 20 points. Milwaukee also held a 32-16 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Milwaukee's 12 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points, with Madigan and Buwalda combining for seven of those boards.
 
Lomen and Williams each scored five points, while Kendall Barnes also added five and led the Panthers with four assists.
 
Milwaukee returns home to open Horizon League play against Youngstown State on Friday, Dec. 5, with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m.