CLEVELAND, Ohio (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay's defense frustrated Cleveland State in the Phoenix's second Horizon League contest of the season, forcing a season-high 26 turnovers and collecting 17 steals, also a season high. Green Bay (12-2, 2-0) held CSU (3-10, 0-3) to 15-of-59 (25.4) from the field in tonight's 66-45 victory at the Wolstein Center.
The Phoenix overcame its own struggles in the contest to earn the victory, posting season lows in three-point percentage (18.8%) and three-pointers made (3), and tied a season high with 22 turnovers. Green Bay, however, did turn in a field-goal percentage of 52, its third best of the season behind the games against Tulane (54.5%) and Drake (52.5%).
The Phoenix never trailed in its second game of 2016 and only allowed for the game to be tied for the first six seconds of the opening quarter. Green Bay owned a 30-17 lead at halftime and had shot 50 percent (12-24) to work its way to a 13-point advantage. The Phoenix was unable to convert anything from long range through the first 20 minutes, heading into the locker room 0-for-8.
Cleveland State attempted to cut away at the deficit, but the Phoenix seemed to pull away no matter what the Vikings attempted, eventually working its way to a 66-45 victory.
Senior Kaili Lukan turned in a team-high 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, paired with a 5-of-6 performance from the free throw line. Lukan also collected five steals, doled out three assists and blocked one shot in 34 minutes.
Sophomore Jessica Lindstrom finished with her fifth double-digit rebounding performance of the season, pulling down 10 rebounds and finishing with nine points, just one shy of her third double-double this season. Lindstrom also blocked two shots and collected one steal in 29 minutes.
Sophomore Allie LeClaire finished 4-for-7 on the evening and added nine points in 26 minutes. The guard also garnered four rebounds and recorded one assist in 26 minutes. Junior Tesha Buck finished with eight points on 3-of-6 and buried a pair of three-pointers in 25 minutes.
Green Bay will continue Horizon League play on Saturday, Jan. 9 in Youngstown, Ohio, when the Phoenix tips off against Youngstown State at the Beeghly Center at 3:30 p.m. (CT).
ABOUT YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Penguins currently sit atop the league standings with an overall mark equal to Green Bay's, 11-2, and a record of 2-0 in Horizon League Play. The Penguins recently picked up a nail-biting, 72-70 victory over Detroit after rallying back from being down as much as 15 in the third quarter. The Penguins have won at least 11 of their first 13 games for the ninth time in program history. Their 9-2 mark in non-conference games was the third-best in school history, and they had 10 wins before New Year's Day for the third time in program history. The Penguins are led by sophomore Sarah Cash, who averages 14.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
SERIES RECORD
This will be the 36th meeting between the Phoenix and the Penguins, with Green Bay owning a large advantage, 32-3, in the all-time series. Although the advantage heavily favors the Phoenix, recent history has seen more balanced outcomes. Green Bay has won three-consecutive games against YSU, but lost the two prior to that, bringing Green Bay's record to 3-2 in the last five matchups. Two of Green Bay's three victories over Youngstown State last season were by more than 20 points.
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