MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Green Bay women's basketball team is ready to embark on their last road trip of the regular season starting tomorrow. GB will battle Robert Morris before clashing at Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon.
Friday, February 17 – Moon Township, Pa. – UPMC EVENTS CENTER
Green Bay (21-4, 14-2 HL) vs. Robert Morris (10-15, 4-12 HL)
6:00 PM
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Sunday, February 19 – Youngstown, Ohio – BEEGHLY CENTER
Green Bay vs. Youngstown State
12:00 PM
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Green Bay is 3-0 all-time against RMU and 44-6 against the Penguins. GB defeated Robert Morris 63-44 in their only matchup in Moon Township on Dec. 2, 2021. The Phoenix has defeated RMU by an average margin of 17.3 points per game in its three wins. In their last clash earlier this season, GB soundly defeated RMU 71-54 at the Kress Center thanks to a standout day from Sydney Levy, who scored 21 points.
Green Bay has dominated in Ohio, winning 19 of 22 contests in Youngstown. GB kept Lilly Ritz in check the last time out, holding her to 14 points, but the defensive effort wasn't enough in a 63-60 loss to YSU at the Kress on Jan. 20.
ABOUT THE COLONIALS
Charlie Buscaglia is in his seventh season at the helm of the Colonials and boasts a 120-80 record. Phoenix Gedeon is dangerous, nearly averaging a double-double (13.4 PPG and 8.5 RPG). Simone Morris is the team's leading rebounder, grabbin 5.0 per contest.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS
John Barnes is guiding Youngstown State to another successful season in his 10th year as a head coach. Posting a 169-126 record, Barnes has his squad in sole possession of third place as the Horizon League Championship nears. Ritz will present another dynamic threat to the Phoenix, being one of the league's best scorers and rebounders. In her fifth year, she is second in the HL in scoring (17.5 PPG) and first in rebounding (10.6 RPG).
LAST MATCHUP
Green Bay racked up their seventh straight win on Sunday, Feb. 12, over Wright State, 75-55. Natalie McNeal was everywhere against the Raiders, picking up a first-half double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds before finishing with a season-high 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Levy led the scoring for Green Bay, finishing with 17 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
ONE GRAND WEEKEND
At this past weekend's home games, Green Bay women's basketball recognized Sydney Levy and Tatum Koenig pregame against Wright State for scoring their 1,000th collegiate points this season. Koenig scored her 1,000th point against Robert Morris on Sunday, Jan. 22, while Levy did so against Oakland on Sunday, Feb. 5.
FIRST HALF FUN
Natalie McNeal put in a monster first-half performance against Wright State on Sunday, Feb. 12. McNeal finished the first 20 minutes with 12 points and 11 rebounds and eventually ended the game with a season-high 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
FAST FEBRUARY
Green Bay grabbed their 20th win of the 2022-23 campaign with a 54-51 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday night. It marked the 32nd time the Phoenix has reached 20 or more wins in program history. Friday's win also marked the sixth-fastest GB has reached 20 wins.
SYD THE KID
Senior Sydney Levy has been spectacular for Green Bay this season. She has started every game since December 10 and recorded her 1,000th career point in the win at Oakland last Sunday. Levy has also posted multiple career numbers:
- 11.4 ppg
- 88.0-percent from the charity stripe
- 37.5-percent from beyond the arc
SHOUT FOR SCHILTZ
Cassie Schiltz has solidified herself as a leader on the Phoenix this season. The Luxemburg-Casco graduate has appeared in 24 of GB's 25 games, starting all of the games she's appeared in. She's fourth in scoring on the squad at 8.4 points per contest. Schiltz is also the team's leading rebounder, pulling in 4.9 per game.
NAT ATTACK
Natalie McNeal has taken up an increased role in the absence of Maddy Schreiber. The St. Louis transfer has appeared in all 25 games but has played 20 or more minutes in the last four games. During that stretch, McNeal averaged 8.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
JASMANIAN DEVIL
Jasmine Kondrakiewicz has proven to be an all-around threat on the offensive end for the Phoenix. She has appeared in all 25 games while starting 14. She chips in with 7.8 points per game on just 17.2 minutes per contest. A consistent shooter, 'Jas' is 45.5 percent from the field (70-of-154) and 35.7 percent from deep (15-of-42).
BRING ON BAILEY
Reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year Bailey Butler has been on top of her game the last six weeks. Since Green Bay's first game of 2023 at Wright State, Butler has reached double figures in nine of GB's 12 games, including four in a row from 1/5/23 to 1/14/23. She has been a mainstay on the hardwood, racking up 33 or more minutes in the past eight games.
NAME OF THE GAME
Green Bay's offense has taken a leap from last season. In 2021-22, GB averaged 61.9 points per game, ranked 225th in the nation. This year, the Phoenix is posting 67.9 points per contest, good for 134th in the country and fifth in the Horizon League. Green Bay's field goal percentage also climbed from 39.0 percent last season (6th in the HL) to second-highest at 43.8 percent this year. The Phoenix boasts the second-best scoring margin in the HL at +14.7, only behind Cleveland State's +19.3.
DYNAMITE DEFENSE
The Phoenix prides itself on the defensive end of the ball, especially so during the 2022-23 campaign. Green Bay has held opponents to 53.2 points per game, easily the best in the Horizon League and eighth in the NCAA. GB is also number one in the Horizon in opponent field goal percentage (33.0 percent) and second in opponent three-point percentage (26.1 percent).
WIN FROM WITHIN
Thirteen of GB's 15 players come from inside the state border. Only Jenna Guyer (Circle Pines, Minn.) and Tatum Koenig (West Branch, Iowa) are not from Wisconsin.
NEW PHOENIX FACES
Green Bay welcomed three newcomers to the team last offseason.
Transfers
Tatum Koenig (5-7, G | Bradley)
Natalie McNeal (5-8, G | St. Louis)
Brehna Evans (5-8, G | St.Cloud State)
PRESEASON #HLWBB POLL
Pl. Team (1st-place votes) – Pts.
1. Youngstown State (8) - 118
2. Green Bay (2) - 106
3. Cleveland State (1) - 102
4. Northern Kentucky - 88
5. Milwaukee - 75
6. IUPUI - 67
7. Oakland - 47
8. Purdue Fort Wayne - 44
9. Robert Morris - 42
10. Wright State - 26
11. Detroit Mercy – 11
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