GREEN BAY, Wis.
(GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The 21st ranked Green Bay (7-0) women's basketball
team forced 30 turnovers and set a Kress Center record with 33 made free throws
in its 83-40 win over North Dakota (1-4) Wednesday night at the Kress Events
Center.
Four players scored in double figures for the Phoenix including
sophomore Stephanie Sension (Hopkins, Minn.) who led all scorers with a career-high 12 points while shooting 4-5 from the field. Julie Wojta (Mishicot, Wis.),
Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville, Wis.) and Kayla Tetschlag (Sheboygan, Wis.) had 10 points each.
Green Bay's defense forced the Fighting Sioux to turn the
ball over 19 times in the first half while scoring 22 points off its miscues.
The Phoenix held North Dakota to 13 points and 20 percent shooting throughout
the first 20 minutes of play.
"We adjusted our defense as to how we would start the game
and I really think that made a difference for us in getting in the passing
lanes and denying the reversal," said head coach Matt Bollant.
After starting the game on a 10-0 run, Green Bay led 41-13
at the break with Tetschlag leading all players with 10 points and seven boards.
The 28-point halftime lead was Green Bay's largest of the season. In addition,
Jenny Gilbertson (Wabasha, Minn.) grabbed a career-high five boards before
finishing the game with six.
Both teams struggled to get into any sort of rhythm due to a
combined 52 fouls called. "It was difficult to get any sort of flow to the game
going because of all the stopping," said Wojta. "It was definitely a challenge
to overcome; we'd just rather play more aggressively."
The Phoenix started the second half on a 10-3 run before
outscoring the Fighting Sioux 42-27 and leading by as many as 47 with under two
minutes to play. After struggling on the boards to this point in the season, Green
Bay outrebounded UND by tying a Kress Center Record with 50 boards
Green Bay shot 33-percent in the second half before
finishing the game shooting 35-percent from the field and 78-percent from the
free-throw line. Meanwhile the Phoenix held North Dakota to 25-percent shooting
in the contest.
"Offensively we just had an off night and we need to rely on
our defense when that happens," said Wojta. "Our defense fuels our offense and
if we can keep that up, shots will go in," Quilling added.
The Phoenix will have a short road trip to Eastern Michigan (5-2)
Monday, Dec. 6 at 6:00 p.m. before returning to Green Bay for four of its next
five games.
Career Day... For
the seventh consecutive game a Phoenix player has had a career day. Wednesday
Jenny Gilbertson played a career-high 19 minutes while pouring in a career-high
eight points shooting a perfect 3-3 from the field and 2-2 from the charity
stripe. In addition, Gilbertson grabbed a career-high six rebounds.
Katie Bushman (Phillips, Wis.) played a career-high six
minutes while scoring a career-high five points. Meanwhile Sension scored a
career-high 12 points to lead all scorers while grabbing a career-high six
boards.
Double Digits... For
the fourth time this season at least four players have scored in double figures
for the Phoenix. In addition to Sension's 12, Wojta, Hoewisch and Tetschlag
each chipped in 10.
Countdown to the Club...
With her ten points against North Dakota, Tetschlag is 76 points away from
joining classmate Celeste Hoewisch in the 1,000-point club.
Kress Center Records...
Green Bay's previous record for free throws made (set last season) was
broken tonight after the Phoenix sank 33 free throws. In addition the Phoenix
tied the Kress Center team rebounding record by grabbing 50 boards.
Sharing the Wealth... For
the first time this season, every player that stepped on the floor for Green
Bay scored at least two points.
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