While a major winter storm is approaching Wisconsin, the Green Bay Phoenix Women’s Basketball team remained red hot, winning its eighth straight game, taking down the Youngstown State Penguins, 85-47.
Green Bay started the game by aggressively going after Penguins big, Emily Saunders, getting her in foul trouble before she could record any other stat. From there, the Phoenix were out and running opening up a 10 point lead after the first quarter 24-14. Green Bay would limit Youngstown State to only seven second-quarter points, shooting 7-30 for the half with its trademark stingy defense, going into the break up 48-21.
It was more of the same in the third quarter, starting the half on a 10-4 run before the Penguins were forced to take an early time out. By the midpoint of the third quarter, Green Bay showcased its well documented balance, where all nine players who had checked into the contest had scored. Only Kendall Renard, who checked in late into the fourth quarter, would not score for Green Bay.
Three Phoenix players had double digit points totals, led by junior Jasmine Kondrakiewicz who had a game high 16 points. Cassie Schiltz, two weeks removed from her run as Horizon League Player of the Week, chipped in 15, and Natalie McNeal had 14. The Phoenix would lead by as much as 41 in the later part of the game.
On the defensive front, Green Bay held just about everyone in check. Perhaps most importantly, Youngstown State’s leading scorer, Emily Saunders, only had four points and one rebound, well shy of her per-game averages. The Penguins only had two double digit scorers, sophomore guard Abby Liber and Haley Thierry who each had 10 off the bench.
Next up for the Phoenix, Green Bay will host the Robert Morris Colonials on Saturday afternoon with a 1pm CT tip time at the Kress Events Center. Youngstown State will brave the Wisconsin winter weather, traveling down I-43 to play the Milwaukee Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
