By: Jill Wunrow (@JillWunrow)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The No. RV/25 Green Bay women's basketball team will play its final exhibition game of the 2012-13 season Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. as it hosts Michigan Tech at the Kress Events Center. The date also marks five years ago to the day that Green Bay played its first basketball game at the Kress Center.

With three sellouts in the history of the Kress Center, the Phoenix has compiled an impressive 79-6 overall record, 32-5 non-conference record and an 11-2 postseason record. Since the first tip off, Nov. 3, 2007, 182,583 people have made up the total attendance during women's basketball games.

After a 103-31 win over Judson (Elgin, Ill.) in its exhibition opener Oct. 27, Saturday's game will be the final tune-up for the Phoenix as it tips off regular season play on the road at Northern Iowa Saturday, Nov. 10 before hosting Central Michigan in its home opener Nov. 17.

For the third consecutive season Green Bay makes an appearance in the Preseason Top 25 Polls. In the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll released Oct. 30, Green Bay is tied at No. 25 with Kansas while receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Preseason Poll released Oct. 27. The No. 25 ranking ties the earliest ranking in program history and marks the sixth time in nine seasons and fourth consecutive season Green Bay has been ranked in the polls.

For the second consecutive season Michigan Tech travels to Green Bay for exhibition play. In last season's meeting on Oct. 29, Green Bay was victorious 59-39 in the exhibition opener. The Huskies finished the 2011-12 season as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) runner-up with an overall record of 20-7.

RITCHIE REUNION: Saturday's exhibition contest marks a special game for Green Bay senior Adrian Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) and her family as Ritchie's youngest sister Jillian is a sophomore on the Michigan Tech squad. It will be the first time the Ritchie duo will play against each other on the same court.

In last season's exhibition game against Green Bay, Jillian did not play with anticipation of redshirting her freshman season. But shortly after the Huskies' exhibition contest against the Phoenix, Jillian proved she could be an asset to the Michigan Tech squad right away and later played her freshman season, earning a spot in the starting lineup in 14 of 27 games. Jillian tipped off her freshman career earning the Terry Wilson Award as the school's top female freshman student-athlete while averaging 2.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest.

Both Adrian and Jillian were two-time all-conference selections at De Pere High School while oldest sister Erica, who will be cheering proudly in the stands Saturday, was a stand-out athlete on the track and volleyball teams during her prep career.

FABULOUS FRESHMEN: This year's freshman class consists of seven players with five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen. The class size marks the third time in program history Green Bay has entered the season with seven freshmen on its roster with the others being the 1985-86 and 2007-08 seasons.

During Green Bay's exhibition opener against Judson all 15 players on the roster played at least 10 minutes each. The freshmen class combined for 33 points with Kaili Lukan (Barrie, Ontario) leading the way, going 7-for-7 from the field while scoring 16 points in 13 minutes of play.

FAN FEST FESTIVITIES: Green Bay athletics is also hosting its annual Phoenix Fan Fest presented by Culver's from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Dick Bennett gym of the Kress Center.

The event is free to attend and will include numerous activities, including inflatables, face painting, balloons, games an appearance from Phlash the Phoenix and the opportunity to get autographs from Green Bay student-athletes.

The men's soccer team will kick off the day of festivities first with its final game of the season at 1 p.m. at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Head coach Dan Popik and the Phoenix will honor its seniors before hosting Cleveland State. The Volleyball team will serve excitement with its final home match of the season as it hosts UIC at 2 p.m. at the Kress Center for senior day.

Kids that attend Phoenix Fan Fest will receive free admission to the women's basketball game against Michigan Tech at 7 p.m.

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE: Fans unable to attend Saturday's game can follow the action live on greenbayphoenix.com. Live stats and live video of the contest will be available online.

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Individual, full season ticket and Pick 5 packages are on sale now with the Green Bay Athletics Ticket Office. For more information and to order tickets, please call 920.465.2625 or visit the athletics department offices in the Kress Events Center.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.

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