YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Four Phoenix reached double figures Saturday afternoon as Green Bay took down Youngstown State, 71-59. Green Bay remains deadlocked in a first-place tie with Cleveland State.
Maddy Schreiber and Natalie McNeal tallied 18 points apiece to lead GB (21-5, 14-2 HL). Bailey Butler recorded 14 points, nine assists, and two steals. Her nine assists tie her career-high and are a new season-high. McNeal also notched her seventh career double-double (fifth with the Phoenix) and third in the last four games.
Emily Saunders scored 19 points to lead Youngstown State (12-15, 8-9 HL). She was the only Penguin to reach double figures as YSU saw its four-game win streak halt.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Green Bay took a quick 8-1 lead thanks to a pair of Butler triples, but YSU answered with a 7-0 run, tying the game at eight before the under-five media timeout. Despite going over five and a half minutes without a bucket, four points from McNeal sparked the Phoenix, and GB entered the second frame with a 17-10 lead. The Phoenix blew open a 16-point advantage with a dominant second quarter, outscoring YSU 16-9. Schreiber scored six points in the stanza, and Guyer came off the bench to chip in with four points. Green Bay contained YSU, holding the Penguins to 4-of-15 shooting, and went into the locker room up 33-19.
The Penguins answered the bell out of the break, cutting a 16-point deficit down to one after Saunders executed an and-one. Green Bay scored the first bucket of the second half but went 3:39 without a score after that, coinciding with a 15-0 run by the Penguins. McNeal answered Saunders' old-fashioned three-point play with an and-one on the other end, and the Phoenix would end the third quarter on a 15-7 run. GB was on cruise control in the final stanza, and Schreiber made a shot with 2:04 left to put the game away, spoiling Youngstown State's Senior Day with a 71-59 victory.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay forced 16 Youngstown State turnovers while committing 10.
» The Phoenix never trailed after taking a 12-10 advantage with 1:22 left in the first quarter.
» GB racked up 32 points in the paint, while YSU had 28.
» The Phoenix had 16 points off of Penguin turnovers, while YSU had just six off of GB turnovers.
ON THE HORIZON
The Phoenix will finish the regular season by hosting three of its remaining four games. Green Bay will welcome Oakland to the Kress Center next Thursday before battling Detroit Mercy on Saturday, February 24. Help defend the Kress by purchasing your tickets HERE.
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