Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

PDF Box  |

MILWAUKEE – Eastern Illinois women's basketball could not dig itself out of first half hole as the Panthers lost on the road at Milwaukee, 72-63, on Wednesday afternoon.

EIU fell to 3-5 on the season and will play at Western Illinois on Friday night at 7 pm.  Milwaukee improved to 3-5.

EIU led 20-15 with 8:20 to play in the first half as Erica Brown hit a jumper.  That would be EIU's final points for the next ten minutes of the contest.

UWM closed the half with a 20-0 run to take a 35-20 lead at the half.  Jaleesa Armstrong gave Milwaukee its first lead of the game with a 3-pointer with 6:42 to play in the first half.  Cree Hammond followed with a 3-pointer and UWM was off and running.

Ashley Green had five of her 18 points to close out the half as six different Milwaukee players scored.  EIU did not help itself with five offensive fouls and 18 first half turnovers.

EIU would then go the first 1:40 of the second half without any points as Shakita Cox finally ended the long scoring drought with a pair of free throws at the 18:20 mark of the second half. 

Jenny Lindner hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw to push Milwaukee's lead to 21 points at 43-22 with 16:05 to play.  Morgan Martin ended EIU's field goal drought with 15:49 to play with a three point play.

EIU head coach Debbie Black turned to her bench for some late energy as Bh'rea Griffin, Mariah Madison and Jalisha Smith provided some inspired minutes as the Panthers cut the margin to single digits.  Smith's free throws cut the lead to ten points with 3:21 to play.  Sabina Oroszova made it an eight point lead with a basket on the next EIU possession.  Oroszova had her fifth double-double of the year with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

Griffin's 3-pointer made it a seven point game at 68-61 with 48 seconds left to play.  Griffin had seven points, seven assists and two steals.

Macie Dorow and Lindner closed the game out at the line.  Lindner had 19 points to lead Milwaukee.  UWM was 27-of-33 from the free throw line including 19-of-22 in the second half.

EIU cut down on its turnovers in the second half and shot 52 percent from the field as they outscored Milwaukee in the second twenty minutes.  Phylicia Johnson scored in double figures for the third straight game finishing with 11 points.  Brown had 10 points, 8 rebounds before fouling out.