GREEN BAY, Wis.
(GreenBayPhoenix.com) - After moving into sole possession of first place in the Horizon League
standings, the No. 21/17 Green Bay (20-1, 9-0 HL) women's basketball team hosts
Cleveland State (12-8, 7-2 HL) Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kress Events Center,
tipping off the second half of its Horizon League schedule.
Green Bay is currently on a nine-game winning streak against
Horizon League opponents; its longest since going a record 18-0 in league play
during the 2008-09 season. With a 66-62 win at Butler Jan. 27, the Phoenix
stands alone atop the Horizon League while Cleveland State is in fourth after
its 86-65 win at Youngstown State Jan. 29. Green Bay has won 17 consecutive
regular-season games against league opponents. The streak started Feb. 6, 2010
at Wright State with a 74-50 win.
In the first meeting of the season between the Phoenix and the
Vikings on Jan. 8, Green Bay held Cleveland State scoreless until the 15:40
mark in the first half while scoring six points. In addition, less than three minutes
into the contest sophomore starting guard Adrian Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) sprained her right MCL which she continues to
rehab. Ritchie's status for Thursday's game is unknown but she has been
participating in some team drills in practice this week.
Thursday's contest will feature two of the top nine scorers
in league games. Cleveland State's Shawnita Garland is fourth averaging 17.4
points per game against conference opponents while Green Bay's Kayla Tetschlag (Sheboygan, Wis.) is ninth averaging
16.1. As a team, Green Bay leads the way in scoring defense against conference
opponents holding them to an average of 53.8 points per game while the Vikings are
second with a 61.2 average.
Nation's Best... For the second time throughout the
month of January Green Bay ranks No. 1 in the nation in free-throw percentage
sinking 80.5 percent of its shots. The Phoenix has shot 100 percent from the
charity stripe twice this season including most recently on Jan. 27 at Butler
when Green Bay sank 10 free throws in the second half en route to a 66-62 win.
In addition, Green Bay is tied for the best won-lost percentage (95.2) with its
20-1 record. Until Jan. 31 Duke was the only unbeaten team in women's college
basketball before falling 87-51 to Connecticut.
Rising in the Rankings...
This week the
Phoenix moved up a spot to No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and fell one spot (17) for
the second consecutive week in the ESPN/USA
Today Top 25 Coach's Poll. Green Bay received its highest ranking of the
season in both Top 25 Polls the week of Jan. 17 at No. 21/15.
Excellence in Academics...During halftime of Thursday's game,
student-athletes who have earned a spring 2010 or fall 2011 gpa of 3.5 or
better will be recognized during a halftime ceremony.
A Sneak Peak... The annual Teddy Bear Drive sponsored
by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be held in conjunction with the
women's basketball game against Valparaiso on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. All
teddy bears that are donated will be distributed through Bellin Health and Prevea
to area hospitals.
Live Game Action... Phoenix fans can watch Saturday's game
live online here.
Joy of the
Journey...The
newest blog to GreenBayPhoenix.com takes you along and inside the Green Bay
women's basketball 2010-11 season as the team works toward a second consecutive
NCAA Tournament appearance and 13th consecutive regular season Horizon League
championship. Fans can check out the
women's basketball blog here
for updates throughout the season.
