Green Bay was looking to get back in the win column, after dropping its last league game to Purdue Fort Wayne. Natalie McNeal returned to the Phoenix lineup on Wednesday night as Green Bay traveled down I-43 to take on their rivals, the Milwaukee Panthers.
Green Bay and Milwaukee traded offense early on as Green Bay was able to get out to an early 9-3 lead before the Panthers stormed back to grab a 11-9 lead. McNeal, Kacee Baumhower, and Maddy Schreiber each scored as the teams continued to exchange points on consecutive possessions as the 1st quarter wound down. Jasmine Kondrakiewicz and Cassie Schiltz made the last two field goals of the quarter as Green Bay took an 18-15 lead into the 2nd quarter.
The second 10 minutes was more of the same, as Green Bay would build as much as a 6 point lead, but be unable to pull away before the Panthers would tighten things back up. Kondrakiewicz led the Phoenix offense in the period, with 6 of Green Bay’s 20 points. This was enough for Green Bay to hold a 38-32 advantage through the 1st half.
The 3rd quarter was all Green Bay. Schreiber came out of the locker room on fire, scoring the first 5 points for the Phoenix, before McNeal added to the run out of the half as well. Jada Donaldson finally got the Panthers on the board in the 3rd with a 3, that McNeal promptly answered with one of her own. This would spark a 13-2 run for Green Bay, all totaling to Green Bay outscoring Milwaukee 31-11 over the period. The Phoenix would go into the final quarter holding a 69-43 lead.
Green Bay kept its foot on the gas in the 4th quarter, scoring in bursts once again. Schreiber, Schiltz, and Callie Genke put together a 7-0 run which helped build Green Bay’s lead into the thirties. A pair of Panthers free throws over a couple trips to the line cut into the deficit, only for it to be reopened and widened by Jenna Guyer prior to the media timeout. Ellie Buzzelle scored her first points as a Phoenix on the return from the time out, which opened the lead to its highest point of 35 points. Meghan Schultz put a bow on Phoenix scoring with the final 4 points of the contest, all en route to an 86-53 win over the Panthers.
Schreiber led all scorers with 20 points in the win for Green Bay. Jasmine Kondrakiewicz chipped in 16, and McNeal added in 11 in her return to action after missing both of Green Bay’s games last week. Only Baumhower reached double figures for the Panthers, leading the way with 14.
Green Bay returns home for the remaining nonconference schedule, starting with a Saturday showdown against the Creighton Bluejays, who are looking for revenge after the Phoenix took them down last season. Tipoff is scheduled for 1pm at the Kress Center.
