GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Despite being outscored in the second half for the third time this season, the No. 21 Green Bay (11-1) women's basketball team wrapped up its final non-conference game with a 70-53 win over South Dakota (8-6) Tuesday at the Kress Events Center.

"After having 10 days off without playing a game and having four days off of practice, I thought our kids really fought and did a lot of good things," said head coach Matt Bollant.

The Phoenix defense continues to improve as it held the Coyotes scoreless for over five minutes in the first half while going on a 12-0 run and forcing South Dakota to turn the ball over 15 times throughout the first 20 minutes of play. Green Bay capitalized scoring 17 of its 38 first-half points off South Dakota turnovers.

Seniors Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville, Wis.) and Kayla Tetschlag (Shebyogan, Wis.) only played a combined 14 minutes in the first half as the Phoenix led by as many as 22 with 3:21 to play. Nine players scored at least two points for the Phoenix in the first half of play as it led 38-19 at the break.

"It's really nice to see that other girls are stepping up when needed and there's no drop off," said Tetschlag who finished with six points and a team high five rebounds. "We saw that in the Wisconsin game this year and a little bit last year as well."  

Offensively Green Bay had only four turnovers throughout seven minutes of play in the first half before finishing with six at the break. In addition, the Phoenix was 11-11 from the free-throw line before finishing the game setting a Kress Center record for free-throw percentage with 91.7 (22-24).

Green Bay led by as many as 31 with 10:19 to play in the second half before the Coyotes came as close as 14 with 2:33 to play. With 2:18 to play, Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich, Ill.) snapped the Coyotes' momentum scoring her career-high 13th point of the game before finishing with 15 to lead the Phoenix.

"I thought Lydia gave us a great lift off the bench," Bollant said. "Obviously her injury hurt her and set her back but I think as the season goes on we're going to see more of a consistent player out of her especially when she gets back to better shape and practices more."

The Phoenix finished the game shooting 37 percent from the field while scoring 29 points off the bench and 32 off turnovers. Defensively Green Bay forced its opponent to turn the ball over a season-high 30 times and drew four offensive fouls on South Dakota.

For the first time this season, Green Bay did not have three or more players score in double figures as Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville, Wis.) chipped in 10 points in the win. Meanwhile, for the second time this season everyone that stepped on the floor for the Phoenix scored.

Green Bay finishes non-conference play with an 11-1 record. The Phoenix tips off Horizon League play Friday, Dec. 31 against Detroit at 7 p.m. at the Kress Events Center.