GREEN BAY, Wis. – Another week, another edition of Phoenix Weekly, brought to you by Capital Credit Union! The swim and dive teams return to action after their holiday break, Nordic ski travels to Michigan, and both basketball programs look to continue strong starts. Later in this week's edition, we break down another phenomenal semester in the classroom for our student-athletes.
WEEK IN REVIEW
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The team's lone game last week was a 79-71 win over Cleveland State. Cleveland State led early, but the Phoenix responded with a 5-0 run after a three from Wonders to take a 14-12 lead. GB led for the remainder of the half and entered the locker room with a 38-35 advantage. Green Bay relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven threes in the half. The Phoenix ripped off a 12-0 run over four minutes to take a commanding 72-64 lead. GB hit five of six free throws down the stretch and secured the win, 79-71.
It was also a clean sweep for the
weekly Horizon League awards, with Noah Reynolds collecting another Player of the Week award, while DJ Douglas took home Freshman of the Week.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Green Bay secured two more wins last week to extend the win streak to nine. First, the team blew out Youngstown State, 85-47, last Thursday. Three Phoenix (13-3, 6-0 HL) reached double figures, paced by Jasmine Kondrakiewicz's 16, which tied her season-high. Cassie Schiltz chipped in with 15 while Natalie McNeal tacked on 14 more. Kondrakiewicz hit a three early in the third quarter, blowing open GB's lead to 30. Green Bay would hold at least that big of a lead for the rest of the game, reigning victorious for the eighth consecutive contest.
On Saturday, Green Bay overcame a slow start to crush Robert Morris 72-40. Robert Morris kept Green Bay scoreless for over three minutes to start the game, taking a 5-0 lead after Natalie Johnson splashed a three. GB awoke from a rare offensive slumber to erupt for 26 points in the third quarter. McNeal went off, racking up 10 of her points in the frame, helping extend Green Bay's lead to 28 by the end of the quarter. The Phoenix defense suffocated Robert Morris' shooting ability, holding the Colonials to just 28.8 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from beyond the arc. GB surrendered 40 points, the lowest total an opponent has scored this season.
Earlier today, it was announced that the Phoenix Mercury has hired Megan Vogel as Assistant Coach. Vogel will remain with Green Bay on the sidelines through the rest of the 2023-24 season.
A LOOK AHEAD
SWIM & DIVE
Green Bay returns from its holiday break with a meet at Northern Michigan in the U.P. The meet begins at 12 p.m.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Green Bay men's basketball team is embarking on perhaps one of the most challenging Horizon League road trips this weekend, as they travel to Wright State and Northern Kentucky. The Phoenix will square off with the Raiders on Thursday before taking on the Norse on Saturday night. Wright State continues to bolster one of the best offenses in Division I basketball. The Raiders lead the Horizon League (14th in the nation), scoring 84.9 points per game, and lead the nation with a 53.3 percent field goal percentage. The Raiders started the Horizon League season with a 1-2 record, but have won three of their last four.
Picked to win the Horizon League in the league's preseason poll, Northern Kentucky has started the year 9-9 overall and 4-3 in league play. The Norse have weathered the storm well after losing standout guard Sam Vinson to injury earlier this season. NKU will match up with Milwaukee on Thursday before hosting the Phoenix on Saturday.
NORDIC SKI
Green Bay will participate in the 15k Classic at the NMU CCSA Invite in Ishpeming, Michigan on Saturday and Sunday.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Green Bay women's basketball heads to Motown looking to continue the program's longest win streak in nearly a year. GB will battle the Detroit Mercy Titans Thursday night before facing Oakland early Saturday afternoon.
Detroit Mercy enters Thursday night with an 11-7 record (4-3 in Horizon League action). Head Coach Kate Achter has recorded a 16-32 record in less than two full seasons with the Titans. Irene Murua is UDM's top player, leading the Titans in points per game (12.3 PPG), rebounds (8.2 RPG), and minutes (32.0 MPG). Imani McNeal paces the team in steals (1.0 SPG) and recently scored a season-high 20 points in the Titans' loss to Cleveland State. Oakland is in the middle of a four-game homestand, having beaten Detroit Mercy last Saturday. The Golden Grizzlies will host Milwaukee tomorrow night before battling the Phoenix on Saturday. Three Golden Grizzlies average double figures, including Brooke Quarles-Daniels (12.1 PPG), Markyia McCormick (11.9 PPG), and Linda van Schaik (10.1 PPG).
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Green Bay student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, continuing a long-standing streak of semesters with a 3.0 or better GPA that dates back to 2000. Under the watch of Assistant AD for Academic Services Mike Kline, GB student-athletes have extended the streak to 48 consecutive semesters after the Fall of 2023. Phoenix student-athletes have also had a 3.3 GPA in 18 straight semesters. As a whole, Phoenix student-athletes attained a semester GPA of 3.54, with eight of GB's 14 varsity programs boasting a 3.65 or higher GPA. Each of the 14 programs achieved at least a 3.25 GPA. The 3.54 GPA is the second-highest mark for the entire department since the streak began in the Spring of 2000. Over 86.5 percent of Green Bay student-athletes recorded at least a 3.0 GPA, while 24.5 percent tallied a 4.0 GPA. Men's golf led the way with an impressive 3.74 GPA.
Hey, Phoenix youth! Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are encouraged to sign up for Phlash's Phriends, the Official Kid's Club of the Green Bay Phoenix. At just $25 per child, each member receives numerous benefits, including a free ticket to all home volleyball and basketball games, postgame court access, Phoenix apparel, and personalized Kid's Club Day activities.
Fly With the Phoenix was named the official NIL collective of the Green Bay Phoenix last week Tuesday. Started in 2022, 'Fly with the Phoenix' was established by dedicated former student-athletes, alumni, and local business professionals to provide Green Bay student-athletes with name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities. This partnership will bring a collaboration between the Green Bay Athletic Department and 'Fly with the Phoenix'. Fans attending home athletic events will notice additional marketing efforts to help promote the relationship and how fans can get involved. View the different tiers of membership opportunities here and learn more about the Fly with the Phoenix collective here.
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