A snow squall may have kept many from attending tonight’s Horizon League opener for the Green Bay Phoenix women’s team, but despite the icy conditions, the Phoenix remained red hot, taking down the IU Indianapolis Jaguars 78-56.
The game started in trademark “Green Bay Way” fashion, as the Phoenix did not allow a made field goal in the opening quarter, outscoring the Jaguars 22-3 in the opening 10 minute period. Cassie Schiltz and Maddy Schreiber combined for Green Bay’s first 10 points of the contest, with Schiltz connecting on two made threes early on. Jada Patton hit two free throws with 6:27 left in the 1st before Green Bay closed the quarter on a 10-0 run.
Scoring did pickup for IU Indy in the period, as the Jaguars found their footing, but Green Bay kept the foot on the gas and kept the Jaguars at length throughout the 2nd quarter. Azyah Newsome-Cole made a layup with 2 minutes left in the period to cut the lead to 11, but the Phoenix scored the last 7 points, including a Maren Westin buzzer beater to go into the half with a 42-24 lead.
Green Bay continued the run into the 3rd, scoring another 7 straight to bookend a 14-0 run, en route to extending the lead above 30 points through much of the penultimate period of the game. Much like the 2nd quarter, Maren Westin was able to cap off scoring for the 3rd, giving Green Bay a 67-37 lead with 10 minutes left to play. Coming off 3 games in 3 days over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and traveling back from Puerto Rico, Coach Karius was able to get a bit deeper into the bench against the Jaguars. Meghan Schultz was able to score her first career college points, as she scored 4 in the 4th quarter. Freshman Sophie Lahti and Ellie Buzelle were able to come off the bench, giving Green Bay some big minutes of rest late in the contest.
Five Phoenix players reached double digit point totals in the decisive win. Maddy Schreiber led all scorers with 16 points, and was joined by Westin’s 13 points, Schiltz with 12, all of which came from beyond the arc. Callie Genke, who got a start tonight in place of Natalie McNeal, dropped in 11 points, and Miah Meyer rounded out the double digit scorers with an even 10. The Phoenix, ever the cohesive unit, were able to record 21 assists on 28 made shots.
Green Bay was able to get the win without the teams leading scorer, Natalie McNeal as she was sidelined with an injury Coach Karius said is considered day to day, in her postgame press conference. Coach Karius added that McNeal is considered questionable, but that she is hopeful she’ll be available for Green Bay’s next game, which will be this Saturday, as the Phoenix travel to take on the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons. Tipoff is set for 1pm CT.
