INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Green Bay women's basketball team fell just short of a Horizon League Tournament Championship at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Tuesday afternoon. The Phoenix fell to the No. 2 seeded Cleveland State Vikings by a final score of 73-61.
Natalie McNeal put together a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds after scoring 12 fourth-quarter points to lead the Phoenix on the day. Jasmine Kondrakiewicz added eight points, six rebounds, and four blocks and Cassie Schiltz helped out with eight points.
Cleveland State separated themselves with the three ball, going 13-for-27 (48.1 percent) while the Phoenix shot 6-for-31 (19.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 11-6, Green Bay went on a 10-0 run with 4:44 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Bailey Butler, to take a 16-11 lead. The Phoenix then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 16-15 advantage. Green Bay did most of its first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Phoenix held onto their lead at the start of the second until the Vikings' Gabriella Smith hit three consecutive three pointers in a three-minute span that punctuated a 19-10 run to give CSU a 34-26 lead. Jenna Guyer scored a left-handed hook shot with 44 seconds to bring the score to 34-28 heading into the half.
Sydney Levy and Callie Genke hit three pointers at the start of the second half to cut the CSU lead to 36-34 with 7:27 left in the third. However, the Phoenix struggled to get the offense going after, finishing the third quarter shooting 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) from the floor. The Vikings took advantage and held a 49-39 lead by the time the third quarter buzzer sounded.
Cleveland State started the fourth with an 11-0 run and held a 60-39 lead with 5:09 to go in the game. The Green & White made it interesting down the stretch thanks to McNeal's scoring outburst, but could only bring it at close as 11 with 1:32 left. CSU hit their free throws down the stretch and took the game by a 73-61 final score.
GAME NOTES
» McNeal notched her second double-double of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
» McNeal also swiped a career-high six steals.
» The Phoenix shared the ball well, recording an assist on 65 percent of made baskets.
» Green Bay finished with a 40-38 rebounding advantage.
» Green Bay cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» CSU hit 22-of-23 attempts from the free throw line.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Cassie Schiltz was named Horizon League All-Tournament team after averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in Green Bay's three game tournament run. Schiltz was especially key in GB's semifinal win over Purdue Fort Wayne, scoring 17 points and pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
POSTSEASON POSSIBILITIES
As the 2022-23 Horizon League regular season champions, Green Bay will receive an automatic bid to the WNIT. The 64-team field will be announced Sunday, March 12 following the release of the NCAA Tournament bracket. Locations, matchups, and start times will be announced Monday, March 13. Round one of the WNIT will take place March 16-18.
###
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix and @gbphoenixwbb.
Follow us on Instagram: @gbphoenix and @gbphoenixwbb.
Like Green Bay Phoenix Athletics and Green Bay Women's Basketball on Facebook.
If you would like to receive Green Bay Women's Basketball news via email, please fill out this form.
---GreenBayPhoenix.com---
