It took a bit longer than expected, but the Green Bay Phoenix women’s basketball team finally clinched the outright league title after dropping a pair of games the previous week, and not getting help from Youngstown State’s opponents. On a day full of festivities, Green Bay sent the hometown fans home happy, taking down Milwaukee, 91-57, on Saturday.
After celebrating the players and their parents before the team introductions, the Phoenix got off to a fast start against the Panthers, with Jenna Guyer, Kamy Peppler, and Carley Duffney all scoring early buckets. Facing a 6-0 hole, Milwaukee called its first timeout less than two minutes into the game, prompting the first quarter media break. Green Bay wasn’t done here, though, as it would go on to continue the scoring, opening up a 13-0 advantage before the Panthers got on the scoreboard. Sophia Rampulla hit a three to finally get Milwaukee on the scoreboard. Green Bay closed the period with a 24-12 lead, with additional buckets by Guyer, Schultz, and Duffney.
When the Phoenix have struggled this season, it has generally been in the second quarter. As coach Kayla Karius would go on to say in her postgame press conference, the team re-found their identity over the long week off, and kept the gas pedal down. Gracie Grzesk split a trip at the free throw line, Maddy Skorupski hit a layup, the Phoenix defense got a stop, and Guyer hit back to back threes. Maren Westin was also able to get a pair of buckets, sandwiching the media timeout. The in-state rivals traded baskets through the middle part of the period, but Green Bay closed the half with a Schultz bucket, another defensive stop, and Ellie Buzzelle scoring to beat the buzzer, as the Phoenix took a 49-26 advantage to the locker room.
The third quarter got off to a fast and furious start, with each team scoring on its first three possessions. As fast as the period started, it slowed down that quickly as well. Guyer and Grace Lomen scored in succession, briefly breaking the string of empty possessions before the two squads went scoreless for several minutes. Guyer tacked on a couple more buckets late in the third to help carry Green Bay into the fourth with a 65-38 lead.
Duffney started the final period with an and-one, as she and Skorupski kept the scoring ways going. The duo, along with Guyer, helped the Phoenix build the advantage up to 30 points, and as high as 39 points throughout the quarter. With six seniors on the squad, it would have been impossible to get them on the floor at the same time, but Karius would get some extended minutes for Lily Hansford with the senior group.
Green Bay was led by a career high 23 points by Guyer, part of a quartet of double digit scorers. Schultz added 18, Duffney with 16, and Skorupski with 10. In the loss, Milwaukee had a trio of double digit scorers: Jorey Buwalda scoring 14, Lomen with 12, and Izzy Pugh adding 11.
After the game, the Phoenix honored its six seniors, and cut the nets after clinching the outright regular season title. Coach Karius gave a very emotional postgame press conference, reflecting on this group of seniors that came together to lead Green Bay to another league title. You can see the full video below. Green Bay will host one final regular season game on Wednesday night against IU-Indy before closing the regular season on the road at Purdue Fort Wayne.
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