GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball team returned to the Kress Center on Saturday afternoon, overcoming a second-half deficit to defeat South Dakota State, 58-57, in a battle of two of the top mid-major basketball teams in the nation.
Green Bay (8-2) trailed by five at the break, 32-27, and as many as 10 with 8:39 to play in the third quarter; however, Kevin Borseth's team battled its way back behind sophomore Allie LeClaire (team-high 14 points) and junior Mehryn Kraker (12 points) to cut the Jackrabbits lead to one entering the fourth quarter, 46-45.
"I think we would've liked to limit their runs a little more early, but I think it also shows the resiliency of our team given that we were able to battle back,” Kraker said. “Our team doesn't give up and we pride ourselves on that.”
After South Dakota State took a five-point lead with 6:13 to play, 54-49, the Phoenix responded with baskets from Kaili Lukan and a pair of layups from LeClaire, the latter giving Green Bay a one-point edge, 55-54, marking its first lead since 26-25 in the second quarter. The Phoenix capped its 9-0 run on a three-pointer by junior Sam Terry (10 points) moments later to take a 58-54 lead with 2:15 to play.
“I think our defense kept us in it tonight,” head coach Kevin Borseth said. “Offensively I don't think we played as well as we could have, but anytime you don't play your best and beat a very good team, it's a good thing.”
The Jackrabbits (9-3), whose only losses on the year have come to No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 6 Maryland, answered with a triple by Kerri Young on its next trip down to pull within one, 58-57. That score held until the final possession, when a foul on Lukan with 1.7 seconds remaining gave SDSU a final chance, before a three by Clarissa Ober drew iron to preserve Green Bay's fifth straight win.
Jessica Lindstrom added eight points and seven rebounds for the Phoenix, while Lukan (9 pts/5 reb) and Tesha Buck (5 pts/6 reb) also logged key minutes.
Tonight's matchup saw the Phoenix defend its home court once again in the fourth quarter, only allowing the Jackrabbits to score 11 points. At home the season, the Phoenix is only allowing an average of 8 points to be scored in the final quarter of games played at the Kress Center. Tonight also marked the third-straight home game that Green Bay battled from behind in the final 10 minutes to pull out a victory.
The Phoenix will be back at the Kress Center on Tuesday night, when it will match up with Belmont for a 6 p.m. tip.
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