CANCUN, Mexico (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay wrapped up action in the Cancun Challenge this afternoon, falling to No. 7/3 Mississippi State in its third game in as many days. The Bulldogs, a national finalist in 2017 and the team that snapped UConn's 111-game winning streak, got off to a hot start that was too much for the Phoenix to overcome, eventually falling 67-46 for its first loss of the season.
 
Green Bay (5-1) started the game out with a 3-2 advantage over MSU (6-0), but the Bulldogs responded with a 12-0 run to lead things 14-3 with 3:44 remaining in the opening quarter. The Phoenix trailed 17-6 when the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter and was already facing its largest deficit of the season, due in large part to eight turnovers and finishing just 2-of-15 from the field in the first 10 minutes.
 
Green Bay matched Mississippi State in the second quarter, 14-14, after holding the Bulldogs to just three points in the final 6:23 before heading to the locker room. Caitlyn Hibner led the Phoenix at the break with eight first-half points on a 3-of-6 shooting effort.
 
MSU's Victoria Vivians had 11 of her game-high 17 points by halftime after finishing 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-3 from long range in 20 minutes. The Bulldogs scored eight points off Green Bay's 12 turnovers in the first half.
 
Mississippi State pulled away in the third quarter with its best offensive period of the day, outscoring the Phoenix 24-11 to possess a 55-31 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play. Roshunda Johnson buried two triples within the first minute of play to open the third, setting the tone for the remaining nine minutes.
 
Green Bay finished with a valiant effort, even outscoring the Bulldogs 15-12 in the final quarter but was unable to match the tough SEC team, falling 67-46 for its first loss of the season.
 
Jessica Lindstrom led the Phoenix with 14 points and three rebounds in 34 minutes. Karly Murphy stepped up late and finished with nine points, three rebounds in 18 minutes. Hibner had a solid outing against the tough SEC team and added eight points, five rebounds to the Phoenix tallies. Frankie Wurtz finished with six points and a team-high seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
 
Green Bay held a 40-33 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 11 assists and nine turnovers, while the Phoenix had nine assists and 17 turnovers. The Bulldogs are the first team this season to surpass the 50-point mark against the Phoenix defense and was able to hold Green Bay to its lowest point total since Nov. 28, 2015 (43 vs Rutgers).

Allie LeClaire and Jessica Lindstrom both represented Green Bay on the all-tournament team.
 
Green Bay will return home for its next matchup, welcoming in-state rival Marquette to the friendly confines of the Kress Center on Saturday, Dec. 2 with tipoff slated for 1 p.m.

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