By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team is arguably playing its best basketball of the season the past couple of weeks.
Donned in all pink uniforms, the Phoenix defeated UW-Milwaukee 65-56 in a Horizon League game Feb. 7 at the Kress Events Center.
“It was a battle back and forth,” Green Bay Head Coach Kevin Borseth said. “We had a tough time stopping them down inside. It was a great win for us.”
The Phoenix (12-5 overall, 8-3 Horizon) made only 21-of-53 field goals but hit 50% from the field in the final quarter when it mattered most.
Green Bay has won six straight, with its last loss coming Jan. 6 against IUPUI.
Bailey Butler and Hailey Oskey paced the Phoenix with 14 points each, while senior guard Meghan Pingel chipped in 11.
Milwaukee (8-13, 7-7) was led by Emma Wittmershaus’s 16 points.
A shot clock malfunction delayed the opening minutes of the game, adding to the rivalry element.
Not much separated the two teams in the first 20 minutes, as neither squad had more than a two-possession cushion.
Green Bay took an early 11-7 lead when Oskey netted a 26-footer after her shot clanked off the front rim and dropped in.
Milwaukee utilized its zone for a majority of the first quarter, as it fought back to take a 15-11 lead behind eight straight points from its frontcourt.
“We knew the zone was coming,” Borseth said about Milwaukee’s defense. “I didn’t want them deflecting passes. I didn’t want our kids to hurry. We needed patience. The shot clock went down a few times, but we still scored in the opening quarter. Once we got used to it, we started to penetrate and got some rhythm shots.”
Four lead changes ensued between quarters before Jasmine Kondrakiewicz hit a free-throw jumper to put the Phoenix back up 25-24 with about four minutes left in the second quarter.
“It’s a luxury to rotate them in and out,” Borseth said about his post players. “Jasmine (Kondrakiewicz) had a couple of nice putbacks down low and also defended and rebounded well.”
Before halftime, Green Bay’s Julia Hartwig powered up a layup to even the game at 31-31 going into halftime.
The third quarter see-sawed back and forth before Callie Genke converted on a conventional three-point play to give the Phoenix a 44-41 lead.
Each time Green Bay tried to pull away, Milwaukee had an answer.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Panthers notched the game at 54-54 after Mckaela Schmelzer ripped a triple as the Milwaukee bench erupted.
Down the stretch, the Phoenix would not be denied.
Hartwig scored on a reverse layup, and then Oskey went glass to give the home team a 58-54 lead with about two minutes remaining.
Butler then helped put their in-state rivals away in the final minute, as she hit a basket while being fouled and converted the free throw for a 61-54 lead.
“It was a big basket,” Borseth said about Butler’s shot. “She’s capable of doing that.”
The clock ran out on the visiting Panthers as Green Bay scored 11 of the final 13 points.
The Phoenix hit the road to play Oakland and Detroit Mercy Feb. 10 and 12, respectively.
“Right now, every game is like this,” Borseth said about the close games. “It’s good for the fans. I’m not sure it’s good for my ticker. Every time you step on the court, you have to give your best effort.”