By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) -
For the first time in 12 days, the No. 18/14 Green Bay (9-0)
women's basketball team returned to competition and used its inside game to
cruise to a 80-39 win over Ball State (5-7) Tuesday at the Kress Events Center.
The Phoenix did not sink a three pointer in the contest for the first time
since Dec. 28, 2009 when it hosted Southern Illinois.
"The advantage of having 12 days to practice and play two solid halves
the way we did tonight really helped us," said head coach Matt Bollant. "Our
players are very special in the way they practice and get better with every
opportunity, it really showed tonight."
Five players scored in double figures in the win with Julie Wojta
(Francis Creek, Wis.) leading all scorers with 19 points in 26 minutes of play.
Wojta posted her fifth double double of the season while adding a game-high 12
rebounds.
Green Bay opened the contest with three consecutive layups as the
Cardinals came within four twice in the opening minutes. Ball State later came
within five before the Phoenix opened up a 15-1 run, holding the Cardinals
scoreless for over eight minutes of play.
With 8:37 to play in the first half, Wojta already had 12 of Green Bay's
20 points before getting her first breather of the contest from Breannah Ranger
(Skokie, Ill.) who scored within seconds of entering the game. Ranger finished
with a career-high 12 points during her career-high 16 minutes of play.
"It was really great to give other players some minutes tonight,"
Bollant said. "Bre can score on the block for us without question, she just
needs to continue to improve defensively for us to increase her minutes."
The Cardinals broke its scoring drought with 4:30 to play in the opening
half with a bucket down low to make it 27-10 in favor of the Phoenix.
Green Bay scored 26 of its 35 first-half points in the paint with Wojta
leading the way with 14 points and nine rebounds. As a team, the Phoenix shot
38 percent (14-of-36) from the field and 63 percent from the free throw line to
lead 35-12 at the break.
Junior Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich, Ill.) scored Green Bay's first eight
points of the second half, boosting the Phoenix lead to 43-14. Sarah Eichler
(Grafton, Ill.) added a jump shot in the paint at the 11:20 mark to make it
58-18 and the Phoenix never slowed down. Bauer finished with 14 points in the
game, eight in the second half, going 6-for-8 from the field.
After missing three games due to pelvic bone bruise, Jenny Gilbertson (Wabasha,
Minn.) returned to action tonight, pouring in a career-high 10 points while
playing a career-high 21 minutes.
"The break in the games and the timing was perfect for me to get some
rest and rehab," Gilbertson said. "Practice has been going well and I was just
glad to be back on the floor competing."
Ranger led all scorers in the second half with 10 points and three
rebounds, going 4-for-7 from the field as Green Bay outscored the Cardinals
45-27 in the final 20 minutes.
"When we defend, good things happen and that's been our focus over the
past 12 days," Bollant said of his team's defensive performance.
In addition to Wojta, Bauer, Ranger and Gilbertson who posted double
figures, freshman Megan Lukan (Barrie, Ontario) chipped in 12
points while grabbing a career-high four steals. Lukan continues to improve
from the free throw line as the starting point guard went 4-for-4 from the
charity stripe.
CAREER GAME: A total of five players tied or posted career numbers in tonight's win. Adrian
Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) tied a career-high eight rebounds while Lukan grabbed a career high four steals.
Ranger's 12 points, five rebounds and 16 minutes set new career marks while
Gilbertson played a career-high 21 minutes, scored a career-high 10 points
while tying a career high with three steals. Sophomore Sam Zastrow (Algoma,
Wis.) played a career-high 13 minutes for the Phoenix and tied a career-high
three rebounds.
ON DECK: Green Bay will wrap up nonconference play Friday, Dec. 23 as it travels
to Madison to face in-state rival Wisconsin. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at
the Kohl Center, following the Wisconsin/Mississippi Valley State game at 4:30
p.m.
Fans attending the game should take note of a number of special accommodations
put in place to ensure a smooth transition between games. Kohl Center gates for
the women's game will open as normal at 6:30 p.m. Guests with a women's basketball ticket using Gate A should
enter through the doors in the middle of the game while those entering through
Gate B should use the doors on the east side. For more information, click here.
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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
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