INDIANAPOLIS – Trailing by just three after the third quarter, the Milwaukee women's basketball team was unable to keep pace in the fourth quarter with host IU Indy on Monday evening, falling by a 58-49 score.
 
Jorey Buwalda led the way for Milwaukee with 19 points and 14 rebounds, recording her third consecutive double-double. Valerie Cassidy-De Falco added nine points off the bench, while Rita Gomes contributed eight.
 
Milwaukee trailed early with IU Indy jumping out to a quick 12-3 advantage, but the Panthers answered with a 13-3 run, highlighted by a seven-point stretch by Buwalda, to trail by one after the first quarter.
 
Gomes tied the score at 20 with a three-point make with six minutes left in the second quarter, before the Panthers took their first lead late in the period. Buwalda converted a layup off a Payton Rechlicz pass to make it 28-27 in favor of Milwaukee, but a late three-pointer by Olivia Smith sent the Jaguars into halftime with a 30-28 lead.
 
The third quarter was a one-possession game throughout, with neither side leading by more than three points. The period featured two ties and five lead changes, with IU Indy holding a 40-37 advantage after 30 minutes.
 
Smith finished the game with 19 points for IU Indy, including 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Jaguars pulled away down the stretch. Hailey Smith added 13 points and had a team-high 10 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season.
 
IU Indy capitalized on 23 Milwaukee turnovers, forcing 13 steals and converting those giveaways for 23 points. The Jaguars also held a 30-18 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Milwaukee won the rebounding battle, 37-28. In addition to Buwalda's 14 boards, Grace Lomen pulled down seven rebounds.
 
Milwaukee returns home on Jan. 2 for a 6:00 p.m. matchup against Robert Morris at the Klotsche Center.