INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indy Jaguars dropped a hard-fought game to the Milwaukee Panthers on Wednesday night in The Jungle, falling 66-62 despite a late surge in the final moments. The Jaguars, who struggled offensively in the first half, couldn't recover from the early deficit. Senior Katie Davidson recorded her eighth straight double-digit point game, leading all scorers with 24 points.
 
Milwaukee came out red-hot, shooting 70 percent in the first quarter to take an 18-10 lead. Meanwhile, the Jaguars were ice-cold, converting just 21.4 percent of their field goals and struggling from deep, shooting only 11.1 percent (1-for-9) from beyond the arc.
 
The Jags showed some improvement in the second quarter, but Milwaukee maintained control, outscoring IU Indy 13-12 to hold a 31-22 lead at halftime.
 
After the break, the Jaguars came out with renewed energy. A 7-0 run, all from Davidson, cut the Panthers' lead to 33-29, and IU Indy outscored Milwaukee 16-14 in the third quarter to narrow the gap to 45-38 heading into the final period.
 
The Jags found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, shooting a game-high 50 percent from the field and 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from three-point range. With seconds ticking down, Azyah Newson-Cole nailed a clutch three-pointer to pull IU Indy within two points at 64-62. But Milwaukee's Kacee Baumhower sealed the win with two critical free throws, extending the Panthers' lead to 66-62 as the final buzzer sounded.
 
Davidson led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Her 24-point performance was complemented by Newson-Cole, who added 11 points, and Faith Stinson, who chipped in with nine. Shania Nichols-Vannett contributed five assists, leading the team in that category.
 
The loss drops IU Indy to 5-16 overall and 4-8 in Horizon League play. The Jaguars will look to bounce back when they host Green Bay on Sunday, February 2, at 2:00 PM.