The Eastern women’s basketball team dropped their eighth-straight game Thursday night to Milwaukee as their record fell to 1-9 on the season.

The Panthers battled throughout the whole game as they got off to a quick start, but saw their lead diminish quickly as they fell down by 17 at one point in the game.

“If we keep giving up this many points every game then we are going to have to score 90 points a game to win, and that is just not who we are,” Black said.

Although, the Panthers went into the half trailing 47-32, they found the team felt confident in their abilities to come back in the second half.

“I told the girls that we needed to cut the deficit to at least seven by the start of the fourth quarter,” Eastern coach Debbie Black said. “I didn’t think that we would end up bringing it within one so quickly.”

After seeing their largest deficit of the game during the third quarter as they trailed by 17, Eastern answered the call by cutting the lead to just one point.

Although the Panthers came within one point of the lead near the end of the third, they could not complete the comeback as they let Milwaukee go on a 12-2 run to evidently decide their fate.

Eastern also received a spirited performance from someone who usually prides herself on her defense.

Shakita Cox lead the Panthers with 21 points scored in the game as well as going four-for-six from beyond the arch.

“I never really rely on my offense because I am more of a defensive player, but if I have to step up on offense then I will,” Cox said. “I am always going to focus on defense first though because defense is what wins games.”

Eastern also struggled in the paint again in what seems to be a continuing trend in all of their losses this season.

“It’s a tough one to swallow because we are giving them easy baskets while we have to work hard for ours,” Black said. “We aren’t really a big team, but we need to help each other in the post.”

As the Panthers continue to search for an answer to end this eight-game skid, Black looks for self-reflection and the ability to move onto the next game.

“We have to reflect individually because no one feels good about themselves right now,” Black said. “No one feels good right now and if anyone does then they shouldn’t be playing.”

The Panthers will attempt to end this rough patch as they take on Stetson on Sunday at Lantz Arena as they close out this two-game home stand.

“I am a big believer in moving onto the next thing quickly,” Black said. “Once I wake up tomorrow morning my focus will turn right to the next game, because that is all we can do about this loss.”

Maher Kawash can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]