Phoenix punch ticket to Indy with wire to wire win

Green Bay is one step closer to a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, after playing what the team hopes is its final game at the Kress Center this season. The Phoenix hosted and dominated the #10 seed Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the Horizon League Quarterfinals, winning 84-55. 

It truly was a start to finish, wire to wire win for Green Bay, as the Phoenix scored first and never looked back. First Team All League selection Natalie McNeal got off to a sizzling start, scoring Green Bay’s first 6 points. Oakland did get early buckets by Maddy Skorupski and Macy Smith to keep the game close in the early minutes, with Smith hitting a three to make the game 6-5.

The Phoenix responded with a three-pointer of their own, coming off the hand of fellow First Team All-League player Maddy Schreiber. Green Bay continued to extend the lead as their seniors stepped up big in what could be their final appearance in their home gym. Late in the opening quarter, Jasmine Dupree-Hebert hit a triple to cut the Green Bay lead to 14-10, but this would be the closest the Golden Grizzlies got over the remainder of the game as Callie Genke and Jenna Guyer got shots to go to close the period. 

Guyer remained the hot hand after the quarter break, getting a steal on Oakland’s first possession and later scoring on Green Bay’s ensuing possession. Green Bay’s next two field goals came from Schreiber, part of a huge nine-point quarter for the senior guard. Dani Grim was able to notch a couple of makes in the period, but anytime the Grizzlies were able to find the bottom of the net, Green Bay often would have a response.

One such moment came when the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Year, Bailey Butler, tipped a pass and went off to the races with a step through lay in to build on to her impressive season.  As she did in the first quarter, it would be Jenna Guyer to close the scoring for the half with Green Bay leading 41-24.  

Jasmine Kondrakiewicz took her turn on the offensive end, scoring 6 of the Phoenix’s first 8 points of the 3rd quarter. Oakland was able to keep pace with Green Bay’s efforts to start the period, getting buckets match from Grim, Baxter, and Royal-Davis. Oakland was nearly able to match the Phoenix for the third, but Schreiber was determined to build onto Green Bay’s lead, as she scored on 5 straight possessions. The Phoenix just slightly outpaced the Golden Grizzlies in the penultimate quarter of the game by a margin of 23-19, and went into the final stanza with a 64-43 lead. 

Green Bay was at the free throw line early and often in the fourth, starting with Cassie Schiltz going to the stripe on the team’s first possession.  She made both, as Green Bay would score half of its points in the period from the line, going a perfect 11 -12 for the quarter and 21-26 for the game.  Oakland tried valiantly to get back into the game, as Grim made a pair of jumpers, to go along with buckets from Skorupski and Baxter, but their season would come to an end as Green Bay powered past.  

The Phoenix had 3 players finish in double figures, with Schreiber leading the way with 21 points off the bench, a role she has settled into since returning from her wrist injury back in late January, as Coach Karius has not tweaked the starting 5 since beginning the 20 game winning streak.  McNeal was able to add 14 points, and Genke with 11. 

Oakland had a trio of double digit scorers as well, as Grim led the way with 18.  Baxter chipped in 11, and Smith added 10 points in the defeat. 

Green Bay will go to Indy for the 4th straight season, and will kick off semifinal action on Monday when it faces Robert Morris. The Phoenix swept the Colonials in conference play, outscoring them 149-87 in the two regular season matchups. RMU will come in to the game riding a 3 game winning streak, including a 73-57 upset win over Wright State on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 11 am CT.