By: Stephen Wagner
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay women's basketball team is slated to tipoff against in-state rival Wisconsin Sunday afternoon in Madison, Wis., at the Kohl Center at 2 p.m. The weekend finale will be the 32nd meeting between the two programs.
Green Bay's most recent outing paired it with ex-Horizon League foe, Butler, and saw the Phoenix trail in the fourth quarter before pulling away from the Bulldogs and improving to 5-2 on the year. The Phoenix scored 23 of its 55 points in the final 10 minutes and overwhelmed Butler to secure the 55-46 victory.
LIVE COVERAGE: The game will be streamed live via BTN2GO. Fans can also tune in to WNFL 92.1 FM/1440 AM, where Bruce VandenPlas will bring fans a radio broadcast of the game.
ABOUT WISCONSIN
The Badgers enter the game with the Phoenix owning an overall record of 3-5, with its most recent outing coming against Florida. Wisconsin owned a one-point lead over the Gators at halftime, but could not keep pace with the SEC team in the second half and dropped the home bout 91-75. The Badgers' offensive effort is led by senior Nicole Bauman, who averages a team-high 15.9 points-per-game and recently notched her 900th career point.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs. WISCONSIN
The Badgers lead the all-time series between the two in-state rivals 19-12. However, Green Bay has dominated the matchups most recently, winning five of the last six outings against the Big Ten team. Last year's matchup ended in favor of the Phoenix, 53-43, and saw Wisconsin visit the Kress Center.
PHOENIX NOTES
THREE-POINT SUCCESS
As a team, Green Bay is shooting just below 40% (61-155) from beyond the arc and is holding teams to 24.2% (31-128). Three Phoenix players are shooting a 50% or better, as Kaili Lukan (6-12, 50%), Jessica Lindstrom (13-22, 59.1%) and Tesha Buck (17-34, 50%) have all found success from long range this season.
NOTCHING No. 900
Green Bay picked up its 900th win in program history with its 75-55 rout of Marquette this season, becoming the first division I women's basketball team in the state of Wisconsin to amass 900 victories. The win also improved Green Bay's all-time record against the Golden Eagles to 33-8, a winning percentage of more than 80%.
CAREER AFTERNOON
Sophomore Allie LeClaire, who has stepped into the role of starting point guard for the Phoenix this season, enjoyed a career afternoon in Green Bay's last outing against Drake. LeClaire notched career highs in points (30), rebounds (8), field goals made (9), three-pointers made (8), three-pointers attempted (10), steals (5) and tied her career high in free throws made (4).
CONTINUING THE RISE
Green Bay has proven itself as one of the premiere programs in the realm of women's college basketball. In the 2014-15 season, the Phoenix collected its 17-straight regular-season conference championship and 15 NCAA tournament berth.
PRESEASON ATTENTION
For the eighth consecutive season, the Green Bay women's basketball team will enter the season as the Horizon League preseason favorite, as announced by the league office during its media day event on Wednesday. Receiving individual recognition for the Phoenix was junior Tesha Buck (First-Team All-Horizon League), junior Mehryn Kraker (First-Team All-Horizon League) and senior newcomer Ashley Luke (Second-Team All-Horizon League).
SECURING No. 300
In Green Bay's last outing at Butler in Indianapolis, Ind., head coach Kevin Borseth secured his 300th win as the leader of the Phoenix. Borseth, who is in the fourth year of his second stint (13 years total) with the Phoenix, also led Green Bay to its 900th victory as a program with its rout of Marquette to open the season.
THORN OF EXPERIENCE
Green Bay, who was the youngest team in the Horizon League a season ago, returns 10 players including four starters to its roster. The youthful team from 2014-15 has returned with a veteran status.
CONSECUTIVE SUCCESSES
· Green Bay has tallied 16 consecutive 20-plus win seasons dating back to 1999-00.
· The 2014-15 postseason marked the 18th consecutive postseason appearance.
· Green Bay's 2014-15 regular season title became its 17th consecutive Horizon League regular season title.
ALL-LEAGUE RETURNERS
Three of Green Bay's returning starters received regular-season or tournament league honors in 2014-15. Kaili Lukan: All-Tournament team, Mehryn Kraker: Second-Team All-League, All-Tournament team, Tesha Buck: Second-Team All-League, Horizon League Tournament MVP.
DEFENSIVE LOCKDOWN
Green Bay ranked nationally (23rd) in scoring defense for 2014-15 with 56.1. From what we have seen in 2015-16, the tenacity and relentlessness from a season ago appears to have carried over into the current campaign, as Green Bay forced 22 turnovers in a season-opening exhibition win against Minnesota-Duluth.
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