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EUGENE, Oregon (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- No. 22/21 Green Bay (29-3) will open play in the 2018 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament as a No. 7 seed in the Spokane Region and will face No. 10 seed Minnesota (23-8) in the First Round in Eugene, Oregon, at 4 p.m. CT time (2 p.m. PT) on Friday.

CATCH THE ACTION: Friday, March 16 - 4:15 p.m. CT // Eugene, Oregon (Matthew Knight Arena)

Watch Party: Green Bay Athletics will be hosting a Watch Party at The Bar-Lime Kiln at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Doors open at 3 p.m. with beverage and food specials available as well as a raffle for phoenix gear.

Matchup: No. 7 Green Bay Phoenix (29-3, 16-2 HL) vs No. 10 Minnesota (23-8, 11-5 Big Ten)

Where to Watch: TV - ESPN2  | Online - WatchESPN

Where to Follow: Live Stats

Where to Listen: WNFL 101.9 FM, 1440 AM

Game Notes: Green Bay 

For Live in-game updates, follow: @gbphoenixwbb

Press Conferences: Green Bay  |  Minnesota

PUNCHING ITS TICKET
The Phoenix punched a ticket to its 18th NCAA Tournament with a victory over Wright State in the Horizon League Tournament Championship on March 6th, defeating the Raiders 62-44. The win secured Green Bay's ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the past 10 years. The Phoenix owns a 16-4 all-time record in the tournament's biggest game and has won 16 of the past 21 titles. The rest of the current league schools combine for seven titles.
 
SECURING NUMBER 20
The Green Bay women's basketball team secured its 20th-consecutive regular-season conference championship at the Kress Center in front of 2,679 fans on Feb. 23, defeating Oakland 78-48. The unparalleled streak, dating back to the 1998-99 season, was already clinched after Monday's (Feb. 19) win over UIC, but the Phoenix elected to continue its streak in outright fashion with its dominant performance against the Golden Grizzlies. It is the 17th time in the unrivaled streak Green Bay has secured the championship outright.
 
HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Phoenix has raised the tournament trophy 15 times as a member of the Horizon League, with no other current league school having more than two tournament titles. Green Bay's overall record in HL tournament play is 59-9. Following the championship victory over Wright State, the Phoenix has now won 11-straight HL tournament games.
 
LECLAIRE LANDING IN THE TOP 10
Senior Allie LeClaire has been one of the leading contributors for the Phoenix offense over the past four seasons, amassing 1,472 points entering the NCAA Tournament. The native of Green Bay moved up to eighth place on the program's all-time scoring list in the quarterfinals outing with NKU, passing Celeste Hoewisch's total of 1,425 career points. Seventh on the program's scoring list is Dawn LeClair with 1,477 points. LeClaire ranks fifth on the program's scoring list in the division 1 era, fourth is All-American and WNBA Draft Pick Julie Wojta with 1,638 points.
 
LINDSTROM DOUBLING UP
Senior Jessica Lindstrom enters the NCAA Tournament with 18 double-doubles on the season and 41 in her Phoenix career, a new program record for the division I era. The original record of 35 was set by All-American and WNBA Draft Pick Julie Wojta. Lindstrom currently ranks third (first in the D1 era) on Green Bay's all-time rebounding list with 1,022 rebounds, second place is April Jensen (1979-82) with 1044. Lindstrom is the only player in D1 Phoenix history to reach 900 rebounds.
 
GREEN BAY VS TOP 100 RPI
It was apparent Green Bay was going to face major tests early and often in the 2017-18 campaign when the schedule was unveiled back in September. Entering the NCAA Tournament, it's fair to say the Phoenix has dominated to date, currently owning a 9-1 record against teams in the top 100 RPI. The Phoenix is 3-1 against teams in the top 50.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Green Bay currently owns the best statistical defense in the country, allowing a lowly 46.1 PPG. That stat alone is impressive, but when you factor in that four matchups this season have featured opponents that will compete in the 2018 NCAA Tournament - one of which was last year's national runner-up - it's even more impressive. Green Bay ranks 23rd (3.13.18) in RPI entering the NCAA Tournament.
 
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 1096-414 in the paint through 32 games and held a double-digit scoring advantage inside in 28 games this year.
 
NET NEUTRALITY
Green Bay has enjoyed success in neutral site contests this season, entering the NCAA Tournament with a 5-1 record. The lone Phoenix loss came at the hand of last year's National Runner-Up, Mississippi State, in the Cancun Challenge. The margin of victory on a neutral floor is 10.3 points per game, a stat that includes a 13-point win over No. 24 Arizona State. Most recently, the Phoenix enjoyed success in the Horizon League Tournament at the Little Caesars Arena, hoisting the championship trophy for the 16th time in program history and punching a ticket to its 18th NCAA Tournament.
 
POSTSEASON PROMISE
Green Bay has dominated its postseason slate entering the NCAA Tournament, winning three games in the Horizon League Tournament with an average margin of victory of 17.3 points per game. Senior Allie LeClaire led the way in Motor City Madness, averaging 20.3 points per game and earning tournament MVP honors. Fellow senior Jessica Lindstrom averaged a double-double throughout tournament play, scoring 14.3 PPG and pulling down 11.7 RPG.
 
ALL-LEAGUE HONOREES
Four members of the Green Bay women's basketball team were honored by the Horizon League's postseason awards, led by senior Jessica Lindstrom with a first-team nod as well as an all-defensive team selection. Fellow senior Allie LeClaire was honored by the league with a second team honor after a strong 17-18 campaign. Jen Wellnitz was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and Karly Murphy was a member of the all-freshman team.
 
IF…HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
The Green Bay women's basketball team will be hoping the saying 'history repeats itself' holds true on Friday when the Phoenix takes the floor against Minnesota in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The program's first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament came in Eugene, Oregon in 2003 when Green Bay took the floor against (9) Washington and defeated the Huskies 78-65.
 
WATCHING WELLNITZ
Redshirt junior Jen Wellnitz has been a problem for opposing defenses all season long, ranking just outside the nation's top 50 in steals per game with 2.5. Her ability to disrupt an offense earned her a spot on the all-league's defensive team for the second straight year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Often overlooked is her ability to command an offense. Wellnitz ranks ninth on the program's single-season assists list for with 139. The best season ever was turned in by Megan Lukan in 2014-15, dishing out 155.
 
COACH BORSETH INKED THROUGH 2024-25
Green Bay and head women's basketball coach Kevin Borseth have agreed to a contract extension through the 2024-25 season, as announced by Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie.
 
THE RISING PHOENIX
Green Bay enters the NCAA Tournament ranked in both national polls, coming in at No. 22 in the most recent AP Poll and No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
 
BLUE DOT VICTORY
The Green Bay women's basketball team picked up its first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament in Eugene, Oregon, in 2003, defeating (9) Washington 78-65.
 
Minnesota will be making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and its first since 2015 when it lost in the First Round. The team went 23-8 this season and 11-5 in the Big Ten, before being eliminated in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals. 
To view the complete 2018 NCAA Tournament bracket, click here.


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