INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Green Bay women's basketball team sits just one game away from a Horizon League Championship Game berth as they get ready to face (4) Cleveland State in the 2022 KEEPS Horizon League Semifinals.
Monday, March 7 – 1:30 p.m. CT – INDIANA FARMERS COLISEUM
(4) Cleveland State (20-7, 14-6 HL) vs. (3) Green Bay (20-6, 15-4 HL)
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ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State is led by Destiny Leo, one of the premier players in the Horizon League. She tops the league in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per contest. An all-around threat, Leo makes field goals at a clip of just under 44-percent and knocks down triples at 39.9-percent. She's lights out from the charity stripe as well, draining 91-percent of her free throws. Nadia Dumas is another player to watch for the Vikings. She is the only other player averaging double-figure scoring (11.8 PPG) on the team. Dumas paces the Vikings in overall field-goal percentage at 51.4-percent.
As a team, Cleveland State racks up rebounds, grabbing 41.5 boards per game, which ranks 26
th in the nation, while also grabbing an HL-leading 13.8 offensive rebounds per game. The Vikings are inside the top 50 in the nation at rejecting shots, ranking 42
nd with 4.5 blocks per game. Besides Leo, Cleveland State's offense is well-balanced, averaging 70.1 points per contest, which led the Horizon League. That top-ranked offense will face the top-ranked defense that Green Bay boasts. Cleveland State ranks first in the HL with 9.56 steals per game as well. The Vikings were selected to finish sixth in the Preseason #HLWBB Poll but finished fourth.
SERIES HISTORY
Green Bay is 69-7 all-time against Cleveland State. The Vikings defeated Green Bay in the first round of the Horizon League tournament last season. This season, the two teams faced off just once. Green Bay's home game against the Vikings was deemed no contest due to Covid-19 complications in the GB program. GB and Cleveland State concluded the regular season with a game in Cleveland when GB narrowly won 66-64.
Hailey Oskey poured in 26 points in the win.
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix defeated in-state rival Milwaukee 57-42 in the Horizon League quarterfinal last Thursday.
Cassie Schiltz led all scorers with 14 points, and
Julia Hartwig chipped in with a career-high 11 points in the win.
POSTSEASON PUSH
Green Bay has a lengthy postseason history. Over the last decade, the Phoenix is:
- 24-12 in postseason play, which includes appearances in the Horizon League tournament, NCAA tournament, and WNIT.
- 23-4 in Horizon League tournament play, including championships in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- 10-9 when playing in a neutral site. However, six of the nine losses have come in the NCAA tournament.
REAPING REWARDS
The Horizon League announced the all-league awards on Feb. 28, and Green Bay was represented the league in a multitude of categories.
Hailey Oskey was named All-League First-Team, while
Maddy Schreiber was tabbed to the All-Freshman team.
Bailey Butler was named both Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year.
KEEP AN EYE ON CASSIE
Redshirt freshman
Cassie Schiltz has been an integral part of GB's success this season. Schiltz is one of the top shooters on the team, averaging 8.6 PPG while ranking:
- second in field goals made and attempted (81-of-208, 38.9-percent)
- third in three-point field goals made and attempted (25-of-82, 30.5-percent)
CHARITY STRIPE CHANCES
GB is tied with Santa Clara from the West Coast Conference in free-throw percentage, ranking 11th in the nation (78.4-percent). The Phoenix has four players with at least 10 free throw attempts while shooting 80-percent or higher from the charity stripe:
SCHREIBER SHINING
Freshman
Maddy Schreiber has been a consistent starter for the Phoenix since entering the lineup on December 20. The Kimberly High School grad paces the team in shooting percentage (min. two attempts) at 48.9-percent. Schreiber is also dominant from downtown, dropping in treys at a 38.9-percent clip, good for second on the team. She was named Freshman of the Week twice (Dec. 13 and Dec. 27) and garnered an All-Freshman Team award on Feb. 28.
DEMORALIZING DEFENSE
The Phoenix defense has been suffocating opposing offenses all season long. GB's scoring defense ranks 17th in the nation, and first in the HL, surrendering just 54.6 points per game. In 15 games played since Jan. 6, the Phoenix has allowed less than 60 points 13 times. One of the two games they did allow more than 60 was a 70-69 double-overtime win against Youngstown State. YSU had scored just 58 points through regulation.
SALIENT STATS
GB is 15-0 when scoring 60 or more points in a game, and 15-3 when opponents score less than 60 points. When the final score was separated by 11 or more points, GB is 11-1. The Phoenix is also 15-1 when having a higher shooting percentage than their opponent. GB's 10-1 home record is the best since going 13-0 at home during the 2017-18 season.
LOOK AROUND THE LEAGUE
Before Green Bay and Cleveland State tip-off, (1) IUPUI will face (7) Oakland. The Golden Grizzles upset (2) Youngstown State on the road last Thursday night. The winner of each semifinal game will compete for all the marbles in the championship game at 11 am CT on Tuesday, March 8.
POSTSEASON DOMINANCE
Since joining the MCC/Horizon League in 1993-94, the Phoenix is 67-12 in postseason tournament games, and 24-3 in semifinal matchups. GB is 6-2 all-time against Cleveland State in the MCC/Horizon League Tournament. The Phoenix is 2-2 against the Vikings in tournament semifinal matchups.
#HLWBB Bracket (PDF)
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