The Green Bay Phoenix women’s basketball team has already clinched the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Horizon League tournament, and at least a share of the regular season title. While the outright title feels like a foregone conclusion, the celebration will be on hold for at least a little longer, after the Phoenix dropped back-to-back conference games for the first time since 2021-22. After a pair of close games the previous week and Green Bay dropping a mid-week game at Cleveland State in overtime, the Phoenix returned home, but took a beating from Northern Kentucky on Saturday, losing 77 to 59.
Saturday was Green Bay’s annual Pink Zone game, bringing out one of the biggest crowds to the Kress Center this season. The Phoenix got off to a hot start, scoring on three of their first four possessions of the game. Meghan Schultz scored the first four points, followed by a Skorupski layup in transition after a steal. Jenna Guyer got in on the scoring action with a made three pointer, which she followed up with a layup prior to the media timeout. Green Bay kept the scoring going through the remainder of the quarter, as Carley Duffney hit a triple and a layup, part of a 7-0 run to close the first quarter with a 20 to 11 lead. Kamy Peppler scored on Green Bay’s opening possession of the second quarter to extend the lead up to 11 points, which would be the largest lead the Phoenix would hold in the game. On the ensuing Norse possession, Schultz was whistled for a foul, but Peppler claimed responsibility. The officials went to review the call, which brought on a very early media stoppage in the second, less than one minute into the period. The foul remained on Schultz, leading Coach Karius to make a substitution. Northern Kentucky kept attacking the Phoenix, getting numerous players in foul trouble, and Karius had to go deeper into the Green Bay bench. For the second, the Norse shot 11 free throws, making nine; the Phoenix only shot a pair, making both. Taysha Rushton led the NKU charge, scoring 10 points in a row for the Norse, tying the game. Northern Kentucky got the lead up to as high as six points before Green Bay would make a dent. Kristina Ouimette made a three to cut the lead in half, but was answered by a Karina Bystry three pointer. Ouimette closed the half out with another three late in the waning seconds, but after being outscored 24 to 12 in the period, Green Bay trailed 35 to 32 to end the first half.
The Phoenix opened up the half with back to back buckets by Schultz, going back in front 36 to 35. The lead was short-lived, though, as Mya Meredith scored thirteen seconds later, putting the Norse back in front. Abby Wolterman converted a three point play to expand the lead out to four points. Green Bay fought back, as Gracie Grzesk connected on a pair of free throws and Skorupski sank a three pointer to put the Phoenix in front, 41 to 40. Rushton and Skorupski exchanged baskets as the lead seesawed back and forth prior to the third quarter media stoppage. Out of the break, Bystry drew a foul and connected on both free throws, putting the Norse in front for good. Anna Hamilton hit a three on NKU’s next possession to expand the lead, propelling the Norse to a 9 to 2 run to close the third quarter. Northern Kentucky kept the scoring going into the final stanza of the contest, scoring the first five points of the period before Duffney got Green Bay back on the board. Following Duffney’s make, Rushton and Meredith each made shots to help balloon the lead up to 20 points. Schultz and Guyer tried to spark one last run, with Schultz making a layup and Guyer connecting on a three to shrink the deficit to 15 points, but NKU snuffed out any hopes of a rally with a long possession, which ultimately did not score any points, but thanks to a pair of offensive rebounds took over a full minute of clock from Green Bay. When the Phoenix finally did hunt down the rebound, the ensuing possession was short-lived, as Rushton picked off a Maren Westin pass. Rushton scored nearly a minute later to officially end the Phoenix scoring run, putting the lead back to 17 points. Green Bay and Northern Kentucky would match scoring efforts for the remainder of the game, as the Phoenix fell 77 to 59.
Schultz led the scoring effort for the Phoenix, tallying 16 points to lead the team. Skorupski and Guyer each added 10 in the loss. The Norse also had a trio of double figure scorers, as Rushton’s game high of 21 points led the way, paired with 16 from Bystry and 11 from Meredith. After the game, Coach Karius spoke with the media, saying that Green Bay’s defense didn’t do what it needed to do: “we gave up 83 on Wednesday in 45 minutes, and now we just gave up 77. That’s just not the defensive standard we have.” You can see the full press conference below.
Green Bay will have the early week bye before resuming play on Saturday. The Phoenix will host Milwaukee, with a 1:00 PM tipoff.
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