VALPARAISO, Ind. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - For the sixth time this season, four players scored in double figures as No. 22/16 Green Bay (20-1, 9-0 HL) improved to 9-0 in league play with its 69-50 win over Valparaiso (4-17, 1-8 HL) Saturday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. "It's really great to have that balance and fun to watch a lot of different players put the ball in the basket," said head coach Matt Bollant.

After a back and forth battle throughout the first half, Green Bay took charge in the second half as the Phoenix was more patient with its shooting.

"I'm real pleased with the game, I thought in the second half we did a much better job of moving the basketball and getting better looks," said Bollant. "I thought early in the game we were a little quick shooting the three and in the second half we were much more patient."

The Phoenix started the game with two consecutive turnovers before scoring the next five points off the hands of Celeste Hoewisch (Hortonville, Wis.). Green Bay battled back and forth with the Crusaders, building its lead to 10 (22-12) with 7:15 to play off a Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich, Ill.) three-pointer from the top of the key. Valpo's Rashida Ray answered with a three from the right wing to cut Green Bay's lead back to seven.

"Give them credit for the way they come out and played," said Hoewisch. "We weren't closing out on them as well as we should have and they shot the ball really well in the first half."

After the Phoenix took a 12-point lead thanks to a pair of free-throws from Hannah Quilling (Eau Claire, Wis.), the Crusaders came within seven after scoring on two consecutive possessions. Green Bay's defense held Valpo scoreless for the final 3:11 of the first half while finishing on a 7-0 run with five of those points coming off free-throws.

The Phoenix had its largest lead (+14) at the break leading 36-22 while shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line. Hoewisch led all players with 12 points in the first half while grabbing four rebounds as Julie Wojta (Mishicot, Wis.) chipped in nine points.

"One of the things we've been up and down with defensively is playing great in the first half and then in the second half we've been a little inconsistent with our defense," Bollant said. "I thought in the second half we did a good job not letting Ray get as many open looks as she did in the first half."

The Crusaders scored the first bucket of the second half before Green Bay went on a 12-2 run, holding Valpo scoreless for five and a half minutes when Ray hit a three from the left wing. Valpo answered by outscoring the Phoenix 10-5 throughout the next four minutes of play before Bauer drained her second three, giving Green Bay a 23-point lead (58-35) with 11:06 to play.

The Phoenix led by as many as 24 in the second half as Hoewisch scored 14, Bauer scored 12 and Wojta added 10. Green Bay shot its highest three-point field-goal percentage in the second half, sinking 58 percent from beyond the arc. Bauer sank three three-pointers throughout 13 minutes of play in the second half while Hoewisch chipped in two from beyond the arc as the Phoenix when 7-12 from long distance.

As Green Bay was able to get more "set" looks from beyond the arc in the second half compared to the first, it finished the game shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range, its second highest of the season.

"The first half we weren't in rhythm but in the second half we worked the ball inside more and that really opened up the three for us," said Hoewisch who led all players with 17 points.

In addition to her 14 points, Tetschlag led all players on the boards with nine while Wojta pulled down seven in addition to her 14 points. Green Bay scored 20 points off Valpo's 18 turnovers while out-rebounding the Crusaders 33-31.

With the 69-50 win over the Crusaders, the Phoenix extends its winning streak to 11 games while wrapping up the first half of Horizon League play.

Green Bay will return to the confines of the Kress Events Center Thursday, Feb. 3 when it hosts Cleveland State (12-8, 5-4 HL) at 7 p.m. The Phoenix will host Youngstown State (3-17, 1-8 HL) Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. for Alumni Day. For tickets to see the nationally-ranked Phoenix play, click here.