GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green
Bay (26-3, 15-3) owns the sole rights to their 12th consecutive
regular season Horizon League title as they beat Cleveland State (16-13, 11-7) 68-59
in its final contest of the regular season in front of a crowd of 2,775.
"We accomplished our first goal of hosting the conference
tournament but we still have to continue to get better. It's great that our
fans will be able to come out and support us at the tournament here in Green
Bay," said head coach Matt Bollant.
The Phoenix got off to a quick start with the tandem of Julie Wojta (Mishicot, Wis.) and Hannah Quilling (Eau Claire, Wis.) as the Phoenix
scored 24 of their 34 first half points in the paint. Wojta led all scorers in
the first half with 14 points and six rebounds while Quilling chipped in 10 points
and three assists to give Green Bay the 34-21 lead at the break.
"We were struggling a little bit offensively in the first
half and Hannah knocking down those two threes really gave us the lift we
needed," said Bollant.
Cleveland State
played a strong second half cutting Green Bay's lead to nine with just under
nine minutes to play after trailing by as many as 18. With just under six
minutes remaining, Cleveland State forced three consecutive turnovers with
Shawnita Garland scoring on two of Green Bay's three miscues. Vikings' senior
Kailey Klein poured in 17 of her game-high 23 points in the second half to spark
Cleveland State.
"I give Cleveland State and Klein for stepping up and really
making some plays in the second half; the three that Klein made really gave
them a boost," said Bollant.
With under two minutes to play Cleveland State cut Green
Bay's lead to seven and applied full court pressure that didn't seem to phase
the Phoenix. Wojta led the Phoenix in scoring posting her fifth double-double
of the season with 22 points and 11 boards. Kayla Tetschlag (Sheboygan, Wis.)
chipped in 14, Quilling added 12 and Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville, Wis.) was
the fourth player to posted double figure scoring in the win. In addition
freshman Sarah Eichler (Grafton, Wis.) had a career high six assists.
Wednesday, March 10 Green Bay will host the winner of Monday
night's (8) Valparaiso/(9) Milwaukee game at 7 p.m. at the Kress Center.
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