Green Bay stays unbeaten in Horizon League, downs PFW 69-57

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay women's basketball team got a 21-point showing from the bench on the way to a 69-57 win against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons at home on Wednesday. The Phoenix is off to a red-hot 9-0 start to the Horizon League season. It is the first time the Phoenix has started that well since the 2016-17 season.

The Phoenix (14-5, 9-0) had three players score in double figures, led by Jenna Guyer, who had 17 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Meghan Schultz added 12 points, and Gracie Grzesk  helped out with 10 points from the bench. 

Maddy Skorupski also finished with eight points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.

Green Bay won the rebound battle against Purdue Fort Wayne, pulling down 46 boards to the Mastodons' 35. The Phoenix also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 12 offensive rebounds into 14 second-chance points.

Green Bay's defense held Purdue Fort Wayne to just 31.1-percent shooting from the field, including 28.6% from beyond the arc. The Phoenix also limited the leading scorer in the Horizon League, Alana Nelson, to 3-of-14 shooting and nine points in the game.

HEAR FROM COACH KARIUS AND MADDY SKORUPSKI

HOW IT HAPPENED
After jumping out to a 7-5 advantage, Green Bay went on an 8-0 run with 4:53 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Kamy Peppler, to increase its lead to 15-5. The Mastodons cut into that lead slightly before quarter's end, as Green Bay entered the break with a 21-12 lead. Green Bay did most of its first-quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 21 points close to the basket.

Green Bay kept its first-quarter lead intact before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 5:10 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three-pointer from Grzesk, to increase its lead to 37-22. That lead stayed intact before half, with Green Bay taking a 43-29 advantage into half.

Following intermission, Green Bay continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 57-42 before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a three from Guyer, to expand its lead further to 63-42 with 40 seconds to go in the third.

After Meghan Schultz  exited the game in the fourth quarter due to injury, the Mastodons went on an 11-2 scoring run to cut the deficit to nine points with 4:37 left to play. However, the Phoenix was able to extinguish the PFW rally and close the game with stout defense down the stretch.

GAME NOTES
» Green Bay found success from three, knocking down eight treys in the game, led by three from Kristina Ouimette  and Jenna Guyer.
» Green Bay recorded 15 total assists in the game.
» The Phoenix outscored PFW 34-22 in the paint.
» Green Bay had a 46-35 edge on the boards in the win.
» Green Bay moved to 15-1 all-time against Purdue Fort Wayne.

COMING UP
The Phoenix will travel to Milwaukee on Saturday to take on the Panthers at 1 p.m. CST. Following, Green Bay will return home to host Oakland and Detroit Mercy on Jan. 22 and Jan. 24.