INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Extra, extra! For the first time in six years, the Title is back in Town, tournament style! The Green Bay women's basketball team defeated Cleveland State 64-40 in the 2024 Horizon League Barbasol Championship Game on Tuesday afternoon.
Green Bay secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while collecting the program's 20th conference tournament championship and 25th overall.
The Vikings had no answers for Natalie McNeal, who dropped a career-high 32 points. Her previous career-high was 30, also against CSU on February 3, 2024. Cassie Schiltz and Jenna Guyer tallied eight points apiece. Green Bay improved to 27-6 overall and has won three in a row. The Phoenix never trailed after taking an 8-5 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.
McNeal was tabbed KeyBank Tournament MVP, while Schiltz was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Colbi Maples had 22 points to lead Cleveland State (29-5). She was the only Viking to reach double figures.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSU and GB traded buckets early in the game before Schiltz splashed a three that gave GB the 8-5 lead. A low-scoring first quarter ended with a pair of Bailey Butler free throws and a Guyer bucket, making it 12-7 Green Bay. The Phoenix stepped it up on offense in the second frame, thanks to stellar play off the bench and McNeal heating up. Guyer and Natalie Andersen scored four points each, while McNeal recorded eight points. GB held CSU to just 19 points in the first half and led by a baker's dozen at the break.
Green Bay slowly started to pull away in the third quarter, ballooning the lead to 18 at the end of the stanza once Guyer added a bucket moments before the buzzer. After the Phoenix opened a 20-point lead, the Vikings pulled back to within 15 after a Maples layup. That was CSU's last breath, as GB rattled off a 16-6 run to end the game.Â
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay led for 35:31.
» The Phoenix held the Vikings to only 32.7 percent shooting from the field, including 19 percent from deep.
» Green Bay had a 41-22 edge on the boards in the win.
» GB's defense forced 14 turnovers, turning them into 11 points.
» Green Bay got a game-high eight rebounds from both Jasmine Kondrakiewicz and McNeal.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday (March 17). ESPN will air the selection show live at 7 p.m. central time. Details on a selection show watch party will be announced in the near future.
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