CHICAGO, Ill. – The defense came to play for the Green Bay Women's Basketball team on Thursday night, as the Phoenix traveled to Chicago and took down Loyola Chicago, 55-46.

The Phoenix (2-0) had two players score in double figures, led by Maddy Skorupski, who filled the stat sheet with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Ellie Buzzelle added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and Meghan Schultz added six points, two steals, and two blocks.

The defense held Loyola Chicago shooters to just 32.1-percent from the field, including 25-percent from three-point range. The Phoenix also kept Alex-Anne Bessette to 4-of-14 shooting and eight points in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 5-2, Green Bay quickly went on a 6-0 run with 4:07 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Buzzelle, to take an 8-5 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Green Bay scored all of its first-half points in the paint.

Loyola Chicago rallied to take a 19-14 lead before GB responded with a 5-0 run starting at the 3:18 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Buzzelle, to tie the game at 19. The Phoenix then broke the tie and seized a 25-24 halftime lead.

Following intermission, the Green & White continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 31-26 before rattling off a 12-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Carley Duffney, to expand the lead further to 43-26 with 2:24 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Ramblers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Phoenix still entered the fourth quarter with a 45-29 edge.

Loyola attempted a fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Phoenix 17-10. However, GB held on and secured the 55-46 win.

GAME NOTES
» Green Bay had 36 points in the paint to the Ramblers' 18.
» The Phoenix recorded an assist on 70-percent of made field goals.
» The Green Bay bench made an impact by adding 17 points to its scoring output.
» The Green Bay defense forced 18 turnovers.
» GB has started the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
» There were seven lead changes and five ties in Thursday night's game.

UP NEXT
Green Bay returns home next week for a pair of games at the Kress Center. They'll start the week against North Dakota on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CST before hosting New Hampshire for Education Day on Thursday at 11 a.m. CST.

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