GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay women's basketball team returned to the Kress Center for the first time since Nov. 21 this evening, playing host to ex-Horizon League foe Loyola. The game was back-and-forth through three quarters of play, but a dominant performance put forth by the Phoenix in the fourth quarter propelled Green Bay to its fourth-straight win, 65-51 over Loyola.
Green Bay (7-2) outscored Loyola (2-7) 22-5 in the final quarter of play this evening, a quarter that was concluded on a 19-3 run by the Phoenix over the last 7:30 of the game. The Ramblers shot just 1-of-9 from the field to end the night as the Phoenix continued to build its lead, while Green Bay found the bottom of the net on six of its final eight attempts.
Sophomore Allie LeClaire directed the Phoenix offense over the Ramblers, as the guard poured in 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, in 34 minutes. LeClaire also doled out four assists and pulled down two rebounds.
“I think I just have to be confident in my shot,” LeClaire said. “If my team needs me to do something, I want to do it.”
Green Bay led for 32:48 out of the 40 minutes this evening, while Loyola led for only 3:19, despite the game being so close prior to the fourth quarter. Green Bay appeared to get hot at the perfect time in the matchup, working to its largest lead of the night (14 points) as time expired.
Green Bay also received double-digit production from senior Kaili Lukan and junior Mehryn Kraker who finished with 14 points and 12 points, respectively. Kraker also added a game-high six assists to her game resume.
LeClaire and Kraker hit back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter to first garner a 49-48 Green Bay lead, then put the Phoenix on top 52-48. The 3-pointers proved to be first six points of what would go on to be a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to help seal the 65-51 victory.
“It always feels good to be back home,” said Lukan. “Being on the road is tough. Coming back for one day of classes and then go on the road again, it's tough.
“I think, mentally, we did a really good job of getting it done out there.”
Green Bay returns to the court this Saturday, Dec. 19 when the team welcomes South Dakota State, assistant coach Megan Vogel's alma mater, to the Kress Center for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
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