GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay women's basketball team will bring their six-game win streak with them when they begin a short two-game road stint at Oakland on Thursday, before making a stop at Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
Thursday, Feb. 10 – 6 p.m. CT – O'RENA
Green Bay (13-5, 9-3 HL) vs. Oakland (11-10, 9-5 HL)
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Saturday, Feb. 12 – 1 p.m. CT – CALIHAN HALL
Green Bay (13-5, 9-3 HL) vs. Detroit Mercy (0-21, 0-14 HL)
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ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Kahlaijah Dean paces Oakland with 16.0 points per game, nearly double the next player on the team. She also leads the Golden Grizzlies with 222 shot attempts, doing almost half her work from downtown where's she let 101 three-pointers fly. Despite a shooting percentage of 38.3-percent, she's solid from the charity stripe, going 73-of-91 (80.2-percent). In total, she is responsible for 20-percent of Oakland's scoring this season (272 of 1,362 points).
As a team, Oakland is no stranger to high-stakes basketball. Last year, they finished just three games back of Green Bay for a fourth-place finish. As of Feb. 9, they are just one game back of the Phoenix, sitting at 9-5 in the conference, good for sixth place. Oakland boasts the Horizon League's fifth-ranked scoring offense and surrenders just 65.4 points per game. The Golden Grizzlies clean up nicely on the offensive glass, pulling down 12.2 offensive boards per game, which is second-best in the HL.
ABOUT THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy is working through a tough stretch in the program's history. They haven't had a winning season since 2016-17, but have a bright future in part due to Irene Murua, who is averaging eight points per contest in her sophomore campaign. She leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game. Murua is surrounded by Sydney Searcy, who is the team's scoring leader, averaging 10.5 points per game. Brandi Washington is on her heels, chipping in with 9.8 points per game.
The Titans are near the bottom of most HL in most statistical categories, but still have a multitude of strengths. They do well on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds per contest, which is third-best in the league. Detroit Mercy is sixth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 2.58 BPG. Their defense is stellar in the steals department, snatching 9.42 steals per game, second-best in the HL. The Titans are also in the middle of the pack in opponent rebounds, allowing 36 opponent rebounds per game, which is slightly below Oakland (35.6) and Green Bay (33.7).
SERIES HISTORY
Green Bay is 12-2 all-time against Oakland, last playing the Grizzlies on Jan. 2, 2021. The Phoenix and Grizzlies were supposed to face off on New Year's Day, but the game was deemed a no-contest due to COVID-19 complications in the Oakland program. Green Bay was also scheduled to play Detroit Mercy earlier this season, but the Phoenix was granted a win because of the Titans forfeiting the game. The two teams last played in a real game on Jan. 9 last year, with GB winning 61-48. The Phoenix leads the all-time series against Detroit Mercy 53-8.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix kept their win streak alive with a gutsy 65-56 win over Milwaukee on Monday night. It was the first meeting between the Phoenix and Panthers since Dec. 20, 2020, and the game certainly didn't disappoint. Neither team held a lead bigger than four points before Green Bay pulled it out in the end.
Bailey Butler and
Hailey Oskey paced GB with 14 points apiece.
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Green Bay's six-game win streak marks the longest since a six-game streak that the Phoenix carried into postseason play last season.
BUTLER'S BREAKOUT
True freshman
Bailey Butler has stepped up to the plate for Green Bay this season. Named Freshman of the Week on Feb. 7, Butler in the last three games has averaged:
- 10.3 points
- 4.3 rebounds
- 45.0-percent shooting from the field (10-of-22)
- 75.0-percent from the charity stripe (9-of-12)
DRIVEN BY DEFENSE
On the season, the Phoenix allows opponents just 56.1 points per game. That mark is the lowest of any HL team and ranks 31st in the nation. GB also leads the HL in opponent FG%, holding their opposition to 35.7-percent shooting from the field, which is good for 34th in the nation.
Green Bay is 9-2 when opponents score 59 points or less, and 12-4 when opponents score 69 points or less. The Phoenix has held opponents to less than 60 points 11 times in 17 games played this season.
OPTIMUM OFFENSE
The Phoenix spread the wealth on offense, evidenced by having just one player averaging over 10 points per game. Six players average over five points per game, including
Bailey Butler (6.3 ppg) and
Sydney Levy (6.5 ppg), who have turned into big bench pieces for GB. 60 is the magic number for Green Bay, with the Phoenix 10-0 in games it scores 60 or more points. On the flip side, GB is just 2-5 when scoring 59 points or less.
SENSATIONAL AT THE STRIPE
GB has been among the best in the nation at the free-throw line this season. GB currently ranks third in Division I in free throw percentage (80.3-percent). GB has five players who have at least 10 free throw attempts while shooting 80+ percent from the line:
OSKEY ON A ROLL
Hailey Oskey is having a career year. She's started all 16 games for GB and was named HL player of the week on Jan. 31. Oskey has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, going back to the Phoenix win at Wisconsin on Dec. 12. She paces the team with 12.8 PPG.
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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