By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com

FARGO, ND (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The No. 24 Green Bay (1-0) women's basketball team tipped off its 2011-12 season with an 82-59 win over North Dakota State (0-1) Friday at Bison Sports Arena. Julie Wojta (Francis Creek, Wis.) became the 29th member to join Green Bay's 1,000-point club as the senior forward posted a double double scoring a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds.

In addition to Wojta, all five starters for the Phoenix scored in double digits with Adrian Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) pouring in 14, Sarah Eichler (Grafton, Wis.) and Hannah Quilling (Eau Claire, Wis.) each adding 11 and Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich, Ill.) chipping in 10.

"I like starting on the road," said fifth year head coach Matt Bollant who is 5-0 in regular season openers. "It's a great chance for our players to bond and overcome adversity."

Ritchie put the first points on the board with a three pointer before NDSU went on a 10-0 run to open the game. The Phoenix answered with an 18-2 run sparked by Bauer who scored a jumper followed by Ritchie's second three of the half. Six players scored during the run, building Green Bay's lead to 23-12.

With 6:55 remaining in the first half, Quilling found Wojta for a jump shot to give Green Bay the 29-15 lead. The bucket was the 1,000th-career point for the senior forward.

"To reach that milestone in the first game of the season is pretty special," Bollant said of Wojta. "Julie played great for us tonight; rebounded, got steals and played well against their 6'5" player Jana Burich, holding her to just five points."

Quilling sank a three with 38 seconds remaining in the first half as Green Bay led 36-24 at the break. The Phoenix scored 15 of its first half points off 12 NDSU turnovers.

"Our ball pressure made a difference for us. We want to get out and take advantage of creating miscues," Bollant said of Green Bay's defense.

The Bison opened the second half with a 12-2 run before cutting Green Bay's lead to six with 15:39 to play. Quilling stopped NDSU's run with a jumper before Wojta drained a three to build the Phoenix lead to 13 (47-34). The three was part of a 14-2 run coupled with a three-point play by Eichler who poured in nine in the second half of play.

NDSU came no closer than 14 as the Phoenix dominated the second half in the paint scoring 26 points compared to the Bison's eight.

"I felt we did a great job moving the ball," said Bollant. "We want to get the ball inside to Julie and she just did a great job converting every time we did."

Solid Sension... After a few Phoenix players got into early foul trouble, junior Stephanie Sension (Hopkins, Minn.) came off the bench and scored eight points, going 4-for-5 from the field while grabbing two boards throughout 11 minutes of play.

"For a regular season game she played a really great game and gave us a big lift in the first half," Bollant said of Sension's performance. "I'm proud of how she played for us tonight."

On Deck... Green Bay will host 2011 WNIT Champions Toledo in its home opener Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Kress Events Center. Before tipoff the Phoenix will unveil its 2011 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 banner. Green Bay will wrap up its home opening slate Friday, Nov. 18 as it hosts Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. at the Kress Events Center.

###

Season tickets, Pick 5 packages and single-game tickets for both men's and women's basketball programs are currently on sale with the Green Bay ticket office. For more information, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com/tickets.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix.

Like Green Bay Women's Basketball and Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.