About 24 hours after the Men’s team, the Green Bay Phoenix Women’s Basketball also resumed its rivalry against the UIC Flames, winning 64-56. The win was Coach Kevin Borseth’s 800th career NCAA win and 488th at Green Bay.
The game started on an unusual note, as UIC led 1-0 prior to tip-off due to a Class B technical foul against Green Bay, as new NCAA rules only allow the backboard to light up after time expires on the clock. The Kress Center currently has the backboard and shot clock light up.
It was a back and forth battle early on, with both the 1st and 2nd quarters ending tied at 13 and 25, respectively. The proverbial lid came off the basket in the 3rd quarter, led by Natalie McNeil, where she scored 12 of her game high 19 points. This is also a new career high for her. McNeil was joined in double digit score by forward Jasmine Kondrakiewicz who added 14 points as well.
The UIC women, who had never won in Green Bay, came into the game scoring 80.2 ppg, was stymied by the traditionally tough Green Bay Phoenix defense. Danyel Middleton and Makiyah Williams each scored 12 to lead the Flames in the loss.
As mentioned above, Wednesday night’s win was Kevin Borseth’s 800th career win at all levels of NCAA, good for 20th among all NCAA Women’s basketball coaches and 8th among active coaches. In her postgame interview on the Phoenix Sports Network, Associate Head Coach Megan Vogel credits Borseth’s relentless recruiting and developing players who fit “The Green Bay Way” to grow as players and individuals.
The Phoenix remain in the friendly confines of the Kress Center, back in action Saturday afternoon for a nonconference matchup with the Saint Louis Billikens at 4pm.
