GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay women's basketball team will conclude the regular season by wrapping up a three-game road trip at Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday night, before heading to The Land to take on Cleveland State Saturday afternoon. If GB wins either of their two games this weekend, they would host a Horizon League Quarterfinals game on Thursday, March 3.

Thursday, Feb. 24 – 6 p.m. CT – GATES SPORTS CENTER
Green Bay (17-6, 13-4 HL) vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (9-18, 7-12 HL)
Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
 
Saturday, Feb. 26 – 1 p.m. CT – WOLSTEIN CENTER
Green Bay (17-6, 13-4 HL) vs. Cleveland State (18-6, 13-5 HL)
Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE MASTODONS
Purdue Fort Wayne is paced by trio of guards on offense, starting with Sylare Starks, who's averaging 12.0 points per game. Shayla Sellers is averaging 10.5 PPG for the Mastodons, while Riley Ott isn't far behind at 10.0 PPG. Ott is elite from beyond the arc, leading the team at a 42.6-percent clip from downtown. She also shoots 81.8-percent from the charity stripe, filling the stat sheet with 3.1 rebounds per contest and adding 28 assists in the 15 games she's appeared in.
 
As a team, the Mastodon's best defense is their offense. PFW is second in the Horizon League in three-point field goal percentage, making treys at a 32.8-percent clip. They are also second in the HL in three made per game with 8.3, just behind Youngstown State's 8.7, and just ahead of IUPUI's 8.2. The Mastodons share the ball well, ranked sixth in assists at 12.12 APG, and rank sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
The Vikings are led by sophomore Destiny Leo, who is among the top players in the Horizon League. Leo leads Cleveland State with 18.7 points per game, seven more than the next highest Viking, which is Nadia Dumas's 11.7 PPG. Leo is sharp from the stripe, making free throws at a 90.5-percent rate. Cleveland State is most effective inside the arc, where their top four scorers average 45.9-percent shooting while attempting only 2.5 three-point field goal attempts per game.
 
Cleveland State's offense is well-balanced, and it shows, as they boast the league's leading scoring offense at 71.9 points per contest. The Vikings are tied with IUPUI for the HL's second-highest scoring margin at 10.8. It's a battle on the boards for the Vikings, leading the HL in rebounds per game at 41.3 (including a league-leading 13.2 per game on offense), while also surrendering the third-highest opponent rebounds per game. The Vikings' defense is solid, pacing the HL with 4.41 blocks per game and 9.55 steals per contest.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Green Bay has met Purdue Fort Wayne only twice, with both games played last year in Fort Wayne, Indiana due to a COVID season. The Phoenix and Mastodons were scheduled to play on Jan. 16, 2022 but the game was deemed a no-contest because of COVID-19 complications within the Green Bay program. The Mastodons entered the Horizon League before the 2020-21 season.
 
The Phoenix has seen Cleveland State 75 previous times, with the series dating back to Jan. 19, 1989. GB has dominated the Vikings, owning a 68-7 record against Cleveland State. The Phoenix won 30 of the first 33 matchups. The Vikings and Phoenix were scheduled to play on Jan. 14, 2022, but the game was deemed no contest due to COVID-19 complications within the Green Bay program.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Green Bay took a short trip down I-43 on Monday to face in-state rival Milwaukee. It was one of the lowest scoring games of the year for GB, narrowly losing to the Panthers in the final minutes, 50-48. Green Bay led at the half 29-16, but Milwaukee was hot in the second half. The Phoenix was previously 12-0 when leading at the intermission. Meghan Pingel led the Phoenix with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes.
 
TOP 2, NOT 2
Green Bay's defense has been near the top of most statistical categories in the Horizon League this season. The Phoenix currently ranks first in scoring defense in the HL, allowing just 54.6 points per game (which is 19th in the nation). Green Bay also ranks first in opponent field-goal percentage, allowing opponents to shoot just 34.9-percent from the field. The Phoenix has surrendered less than 60 points 15 times in 22 games played this season.
 
BEWARE OF BUTLER
True freshman Bailey Butler has had a spectacular season for Green Bay. The Horizon League named her Freshman of the Week on Feb. 21, making it her fourth overall honor, and third consecutive week to garner the award. Over her last five games, Butler has averaged:

• 8.4 points
• 5.8 rebounds
• 2.2 assists
• 45.5-percent shooting from the field (15-of-33)

 
SPREADING THE WEALTH
GB spreads the wealth on offense, having just one player averaging over 10 points per game (Hailey Oskey, 12.5 ppg). Four other players average over six points per game: Cassie Schiltz (8.4), Sydney Levy (7.1), Maddy Schreiber (6.8), and Bailey Butler (6.3).
 
SALIENT STATS
The Phoenix is 13-0 when scoring 60 or more points in a game. GB is also is 13-3 when opponents score less than 60 points. In games where the final score was separated by 11-plus points, GB is 9-1. The Phoenix is 12-2 when having a shooting higher percentage than their opponent. GB's loss to MKE Monday night was the first loss while leading at the half, and the team's first loss while having a higher shooting percentage than their opponent. They were previously 12-0 in each category.
 
ON THE HORIZON
GB currently holds the three seed in the HL, but is still within reach of the one and two seed. Youngstown State and IUPUI, who face off Thursday night, are just ahead of the Phoenix. The Horizon League tournament begins March 1. With a top four seed, Green Bay would garner a first-round bye and host an opponent on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
 
PRESEASON #HLWBB POLL
Pl.  School (1st-place) – Votes
1. IUPUI – 139 (11)
2. Milwaukee – 125
3. Green Bay – 120 (1)
4. Northern Kentucky – 107
5. Oakland – 96
6. Cleveland State – 78
T7. Wright State – 72
T7. Youngstown State – 72
9. RMU – 47
10. UIC – 38
11. Purdue Fort Wayne – 26
12. Detroit Mercy – 16
 
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