VICTORIA, B.C. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- Green Bay took the floor at the University of Victoria Saturday evening against No. 18 Syracuse in the third-place game of the Greater Victoria Invitational. It was GB's third game of the tournament and second-consecutive against a nationally ranked opponent. Despite finding itself down late, the Phoenix was able to force overtime after a half-court shot from Lyndsey Robson dropped as time expired. GB took over the extra period and worked to a 79-73 victory.
 
The Orange was already the sixth opponent who participated in the 2019 NCAA Tournament to play against the Phoenix this season, with four of those programs advancing to at least the second round. GB still has pairings with tournament participants DePaul, Maine, South Dakota State and Wright State left on the schedule. The Blue Demons, Jackrabbits and Raiders will all make trips to the Kress Center this season.
 
Syracuse buried back-to-back three-pointers to get things started in what served as the invitational finale for both teams. The Phoenix responded with a 13-0 run due in large part to 10 points from Caitlyn Hibner in the first five minutes.
 
Hibner bested her per-game average of 12.3 in the opening quarter, pouring in 13 points to help the Phoenix to a 20-18 edge at the conclusion of the opening frame.
 
The Orange benefited from consecutive offense rebounds and regained the lead at the 8:05 mark of the second quarter when Digna Strautmane buried her first three-pointer of the game. Green Bay responded with a turnaround jumper from Lyndsey Robson for what would be the third and final lead change of the half.
 
Green Bay took care of the ball in the opening 20 minutes and surrendered only three turnovers to Syracuse's eight, which led to 14 Phoenix points and a 37-30 lead at the break.
 
Green Bay led through the third quarter, but a 14-0 run capped off by a pair of triples from Emily Engstler and Kiara Lewis regained the advantage for the Orange early in the fourth, 55-49. The Phoenix was held scoreless for over five minutes to start the final frame, until Frankie Wurtz split at the free throw line to end the drought and Orange run.
 
Anna Brecht buried a deep three-pointer with 40 seconds left to cut Syracuse's advantage to three points, 56-53, where GB elected to foul and force free throws for Gabrielle Cooper. After splitting at the line, Lyndsey Robson buried a triple and cut the Phoenix deficit to one point.
 
It would again be a one-point game, 59-58, after Robson hit two free throws with 22 seconds left. Strautmane went to the line for Syracuse with 21 seconds left to shoot her first free throws of the season, where she hit both and increased the Orange advantage to 61-58.
 
Wurtz converted on an and-one with just three second left to make it a one-point game again, 63-62, which the Phoenix followed up with a foul. Allsha Lewis hit two free throws, seemingly sealing the game for Syracuse but a half-court shot from Robson tied the game, 65-65, and forced overtime.
 
The Phoenix took over in the extra period, outscoring the Orange 14-8 to earn a 79-73 victory and its first win over a ranked opponent this season. The victory was Green Bay's 11th as a program over a ranked opponent and the fourth in three seasons.
 
Hibner finished with a career-high 30 points on a 7-of-14 performance and pulled down nine rebounds in 41 minutes. Robson (13) and Brecht (12) joined Hibner in double figures on the evening and finished with a combined six triples.
 
Green Bay returns home after its trip north and will have a week of preparation before welcoming No. 16 DePaul to the Kress Center on Saturday, Dec. 7 for what will be its third-straight pairing with a ranked opponent.
 
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