Green Bay, Wis. - The Green Bay women's basketball team is set to return to action after 10 days in between contests. GB will face Cleveland State in a Horizon League Championship Game rematch on Saturday before concluding the five-game homestand on New Year's Day against Purdue Fort Wayne.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Green Bay (8-3, 1-0 HL) vs. Cleveland State (11-2, 2-0 HL)
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Make-A-Wish Night | Youth Jersey Giveaway (first 500 kids)
1:00 PM CST |
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Green Bay vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Monday, January 1, 2024
Ring in the New Year
1:00 PM CST |
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ON THE CALL
Both games will be streamed live on
ESPN+, watchespn.com, and in the ESPN App.
Ted Stefaniak will handle play-by-play duties alongside Phoenix alum
Katie Coleman (analyst).
Brian Kuklinski will have the call on
WDUZ The Fan 107.5 FM. Monday's game will be on 95.5 FM & 1400 AM.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State enters Saturday's clash having won 11 of their last 12 games after beginning the season with a close loss at Bowling Green. Head Coach Chris Kielsmeier is in his sixth season at the helm of the Vikings program, spotting a 107-56 record. Despite the loss of reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Destiny Leo, the trio of Colbi Maples, Mickayla Perdue, and Carmen Villalobos have helped guide CSU to a strong start. Perdue and Maples combine for nearly 30 points per game, while Villalobos paces the Vikings in rebounds (6.9 RPG), steals (1.8 SPG), and minutes (30.5 MPG). Jordan Reisma, the third-leading scorer on CSU, is a strong defender in the paint, boasting 1.5 blocks per contest.
ABOUT THE MASTODONS
Purdue Fort Wayne faces Green Bay's in-state rival Milwaukee on Saturday before heading to Titletown. PFW will enter the Cream City with an 8-4 record and an undefeated 2-0 HL record. Head Coach Maria Marchesano, in her third year with the Mastodons, has posted a 29-44 record. Under her direction, PFW improved their win total from nine victories in 2021-22, Marchesano's first season with PFW, to 14 wins last season. Purdue Fort Wayne boasts three players averaging double figures, led by Amellia Bromenschenkel (13.9 PPG), Shayla Sellers (11.8 PPG), and Jazzlyn Linbo (10.3 PPG).
#HLWBB PRESEASON POLL
Green Bay will be playing Horizon League contests the rest of the season. GB was unanimously voted to finish in the top spot, with reigning Tournament champion Cleveland State picked to finish second. Here's how the League thinks the conference will shake out:
Pl. Team - Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Green Bay (11) - 121
2. Cleveland State - 107
3. Youngstown State - 95
4. Purdue Fort Wayne - 90
5. Northern Kentucky - 63
6. Milwaukee - 59
7. Wright State - 54
8. Oakland - 53
9. IUPUI - 49
10. Detroit Mercy - 21
11. Robert Morris - 14
WELCOME TO TITLETOWN
The Phoenix boasts a trio of true freshmen (
Maren Westin,
Sophie Lahti, and
Meghan Schultz) and one transfer (
Natalie Andersen, IUPUI). Westin and Andersen are guards, while Lahti and Schultz bring height to the forward position. Schultz stands at six feet, four inches, surpassing
Kendall Renard as the tallest player on the team. The Phoenix once again boast a roster of mostly homegrown talent. Of the 13 players on the roster, 10 are from the dairyland. Only Westin (Becker, Minn.), Lahti (Pine City, Minn.), and
Jenna Guyer (Circle Pines, Minn.) are not from Wisconsin.
MR. 800
Head Coach
Kevin Borseth made history when he became the 20th head coach in NCAA women's basketball history, and the 16th in the Divison I landscape, to collect 800 career wins. Green Bay escaped the UIC Flames with a 64-56 victory at the Kress Center just over two weeks ago. Borseth began his career in 1987 with Division II institution Michigan Tech, winning a whopping 225 contests in 11 seasons. The 2023 Horizon League Coach of the Year also needs just 10 more wins to get his 500th win as the head coach of the Phoenix. Additionally, Borseth is 24 wins shy of 600 victories in the Division I landscape.
WINNING WAYS
Green Bay has started the 2023-24 campaign 6-0 against winning teams. The Phoenix took care of business of Illinois State, No. 22-ranked Creighton, No. 23-ranked Washington State, Milwaukee, and Parkside, all who had an above-.500 record when facing GB. Green Bay went 9-3 against winning teams last season.
MAKIN' MADDY
Maddy Schreiber has been a big part of Green Bay's early-season success, scoring at least 12 points in seven of the first 11 contests, including four straight prior to the UIC game. In those seven games, GB's record is 5-2. She chipped in with 12 points in the upset win over then No. 23-ranked Washington State, 14 points in the upset victory over then No. 22-ranked Creighton, and poured in a career-high 23 points in the win over Milwaukee on November 30. Schreiber led all scorers with 19 points in GB's blowout win over Saint Louis before recording 14 points against Parkside last week. She also racked up a career-high seven assists.
THE NUMBER OF THE DAY IS...
The Phoenix has been part of numerous games this year where the contest was decided by 11 or more points. In 2022-23, GB was 21-2 in such games, and has started this season 7-1 in the same category. Green Bay lost to Northern Iowa by 11 in the season opener before beating Illinois State by 26, No. 22-ranked Creighton by 12, UMass by 33, No. 23-ranked Washington State by 11, Milwaukee by 23 in the Horizon League opener on November 30, and Saint Louis by 33. GB defeated Parkside by 39 prior to the Christmas break.
BEARS, BEETS... BAILEY BUTLER
Bailey Butler is one of three Phoenix to have recorded 10 or more steals on the squad (23 total, 2.1 SPG).
Natalie McNeal and
Cassie Schiltz are the next-closest to Butler with 10 steals. Seven Phoenix have tallied seven or more steals.
LEAN MEAN REBOUNDING MACHINE
Natalie McNeal has been crashing the boards hard this season, pacing the squad with 6.0 rebounds per game. The fourth-year player from Germantown, Wisconsin is in her second season as a Phoenix after spending her first two collegiate years with Saint Louis. Her 6.0 RPG is currently on pace for a career-high. Her previous high was 5.3 RPG with the Billikens during the 2021-22 season. McNeal grabbed six rebounds during the win over Saint Louis before tallying a season-high nine boards against Parkside last week.
AMONG THE RANKS
Green Bay has been receiving votes for the last five weeks in the AP Top-25 poll. GB tallied four votes in the Dec. 25 poll, tied with Washington State, who GB beat on November 25. The Phoenix boasts wins over the Cougars and Creighton, who is ranked 21st in the country.
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