PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - For the third time this season the #23
Green Bay (5-0) women's basketball team handed a Big Ten opponent its first
loss of the season with a 79-74 win over Penn State (5-1) in its second game of
the Caribbean Challenge.
"It's the third time we've faced
a Big Ten team this season that's been undefeated and to come away with a win
again today feels great, I couldn't be more proud of our team," said head coach
Matt Bollant.
Senior Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville,
Wis.) had a career high 28 points to lead all players. In addition, Hoewisch
became the 25th member of the 1,000-point club with 16:32 to play in the second
half when she drained one of her five three pointers of the contest.
Kayla Tetschlag (Sheboygan, Wis.)
and Julie Wojta (Mishicot, Wis.) had their first double-doubles of the season,
both grabbing 10 boards. Wojta finished with 10 points and a career high six
assists while Tetschlag chipped in 11 points.
"I thought Celeste was
unbelievable, every time we needed to have a shot she made it," said Bollant
who is 4-2 against Big Ten opponents. "Julie played such great defense and
Kayla's poise is Kayla, they both play so hard."
It was a back and forth battle
throughout the entire contest as the Phoenix led 31-22 at the break as both
teams combined for 32 turnovers, 14 property of the Phoenix. After Penn State
tied the contest twice in the early going the Phoenix went on an 8-0 run with
14:03 remaining in the first half.
Penn State cut Green Bay's lead
to two with just over five minutes to play before Hoewisch answered with a
three-pointer from the right wing, giving the Phoenix the 22-17 advantage.
Within a matter of 40 seconds, Green Bay hit back-to-back three pointers giving
the Phoenix a nine point lead, its biggest of the half.
The Phoenix scored 12 points off
Penn State's 18 turnovers while the Lady Lions scored seven off Green Bay's 14.
The Phoenix shot 36 percent from the field in the first half and 27 percent
from beyond the arc.
Though the turnover battle
remained, second half shooting was night and day compared to the first half. Penn
State came out and scored the first four points but couldn't contain Hoewisch
who scored Green Bay's first eight of the half.
Green Bay built its largest lead
(15) with 7:44 left in the game only to have the Lady Lions cut it to three
with just 17 seconds remaining thanks to some unbelievable three-point shooting
by Maggie Lucas. Throughout the final minute the Phoenix kept its poise as the
Lady Lions were forced to foul, allowing Green Bay to seal the game hitting
eight free throws.
The Phoenix finished with 26
turnovers and forced Penn State to turn the ball over 29 times. Both teams
finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field. Green Bay shot 35 percent
from beyond the arc compared to Penn State's 45 percent.
The Phoenix will face Utah (3-2)
in its final contest of the Caribbean Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 27 at noon.
Green Bay returns home to host North Dakota (1-3) Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
at the Kress Events Center. For tickets, click here.
Double-Double Day...Tetschlag and Wojta had their first
double-doubles of the season. Tetschlag grabbed 10 boards and had 11 points for
her fifth career double-double. Wojta had 10 boards and 10 points for her sixth
career double double.
Tale of Two Halves... After going 0-8 from the field in first half,
Adrian Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) poured in 14 points in the second half sinking
seven of nine free throw attempts.
Career Day... For the fourth time in five games this season, at least
one player had a career mark in the contest. Today, Hoewisch had a career high
28 points while Wojta dished out a career high six assists.
