By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – For the first time in more than six weeks, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team returned home to the Kress Events Center Feb. 3.
The Phoenix and Horizon-League-leading Youngstown State put on a show for the 1,687 in attendance.
With Hailey Oskey leading the way with 14 points, Green Bay defeated the Penguins 70-69 in double overtime.
“I’m speechless right now,” Green Bay Head Coach Kevin Borseth said. “It was a battle. Our kids did a tremendous job defensively in overtime. (Youngstown) can score on all fronts. Through thick and thin, we stepped up.”
Cassie Schiltz, Sydney Levy and Bailey Butler scored in double digits for the Phoenix with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“Our strengths are in numbers,” Borseth said. “Balance works out better than having a defense key in on one person.”
Green Bay (10-5 overall, 6-3 Horizon) shot 38.7% from the field but hit 18-of-20 free throws.
The Penguins attempted 43 3-point shots, connecting on 12.
Youngstown committed 26 turnovers, compared to Green Bay’s 14.
The Penguins (17-4, 11-3) jumped out to a 12-4 lead behind the deft shooting of Malia Magestro.
Each time the Phoenix battled back, Youngstown answered.
Green Bay made a late push to trail 27-25 at halftime, despite being outrebounded by a wide margin.
The Phoenix took their first lead, 31-29, after Oskey made a layup with about eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Multiple lead changes ensued down the stretch of the third and into the final quarter.
With about a minute left in regulation, Oskey went backdoor for two points and a 56-55 lead.
After the Penguins hit 3-of-4 free throws, Levy made two from the charity stripe in the closing seconds to send the game into overtime, tied at 58-58.
In the first overtime, with Youngstown up 64-62, Schiltz deflected a pass away to give Green Bay one more opportunity.
After being fouled, Oskey made two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to send the game into double overtime, tied at 64-64.
The Penguins appeared to be in control when Paige Shy scored the first two, and Mady Aulbach hit a triple for a 69-64 lead, but the Phoenix wouldn’t be denied.
Oskey hit a runner in the lane and Schreiber an up-and-under on back-to-back possessions to cut the margin to one.
With Youngstown up 69-68, the Phoenix forced a shot clock violation on the next possession.
With less than 30 seconds remaining, Levy was fouled.
She nailed the two clinching free throws with 9 seconds showing on the clock.
The Penguins dialed up one last play to Shy, but her 26-footer didn’t find the mark, as the Green Bay bench erupted with jubilation.
“We can get lots better,” Borseth said. “We’re still finding ourselves. We have some good pieces in place. We’ve improved skill-wise, intelligence-wise and confidence-wise from the onset of the season. These players work extremely hard. There’s no doubt we will get there.”
The Phoenix next host Robert Morris University Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.