GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- The Green Bay women's basketball team will open league play on the road this week, traveling to Dayton, Ohio for a matchup with Wright State on Thursday followed by a pairing with Northern Kentucky on Saturday in Highland Heights, Ky.

CATCH THE ACTION: 
at Wright State (9-3) - Thursday, December 28 - 3:30 p.m. CT // Dayton, Ohio
at Northern Kentucky (2-9) - Saturday, December 30 - 12 p.m. CT // Highland Heights, Ky.

Where to Follow: ESPN3 // Live Stats

Where to Listen: WNFL 1440 AM & 101.9 FM

Game Notes: at Wright State (12.28)

For Live in-game updates, follow: @gbphoenixwbb

LEAGUE-OPENING SUCCESS
Since 1988-89, years before the oldest member of the current Phoenix roster was born, Green Bay has not lost a conference-opening matchup, notching a total of 29-straight wins to be exact. The last time Green Bay opened league play at Wright State was in 2014-15 and ended with a 68-59 Phoenix victory.
 
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE
The Horizon Leage seems to improve year after year and 2017-18 has been no exception, with four squads ranking inside collegeinsider.com's top 25. The Phoenix sits atop the poll and is joined by Wright State (11th), IUPUI (23rd) and Milwaukee (24th). The Horizon League is one of two conferences in the country to have four programs represented in the top 25 (MAC - Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Toledo).
 
PHOENIX RISING
On Christmas day, the Green Bay women's basketball team climbed to its highest ranking in the AP Poll since the 2011-12 season, moving up two spots from the previous week to No. 19. Green Bay also jumped four spots in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll on Tuesday, currently ranking 20th. The highest ranking the Phoenix has ever received in the national polls is ninth, doing so in the 2011-12 season.
 
BATTLE ON THE BOARDS
Green Bay has dominated the battle on the boards all season long, outrebounding its opponents in every matchup but one, its most recent bout with Northwestern. In total, the Phoenix holds a 424-329 rebounding edge over its opposition through 11 games.
 
SETTING THE TONE
One of Green Bay's biggest keys to success this season has been its play in the opening quarter. The Phoenix has scored 188 points (17.1 avg) in the opening period while holding its opponents to just 114 (10.3 avg). It has proved to be the most productive quarter for Green Bay on both sides of the ball to open the season.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Green Bay currently owns the best statistical defense in the country, allowing a lowly 47.1 PPG, more than three points ahead of second place (Central Arkansas, 50.3). That stat alone is impressive, but when you factor in that five matchups this season have featured opponents that competed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament - one of which was the national runner-up - it's even more impressive. Green Bay ranks fourth in RPI and owns the 16th best strength of schedule in the country.
 
LINDSTROM JOINS THE CLUB
Jessica Lindstrom turned in one of the most impressive performances of her Phoenix career earlier this season at UD Arena against Dayton, scoring a career-high 29 points and matching another career high with 17 rebounds. The senior also became the 36th member in program history to score 1,000 points in their career and the 24th to do so in the division I era.
 
LINDSTROM MAKING LEAPS
Senior Jessica Lindstrom reached two major milestones in Green Bay's victory over Wisconsin on November 15, becoming the seventh player in program history to amass 900 points and 700 rebounds in a career. Lindstrom currently ranks seventh (fourth in the D1 era) on Green Bay's all-time rebounding list with 787, sixth is Kim Wood with 827 (third in the D1 era).
 
PAINTING A PICTURE
Green Bay has dominated the paint this season and held an advantage scoring inside every game this year. All told, the Phoenix has outscored its opponents 386-156 through 11 games and held a double-digit scoring advantage inside in eight games this year.

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