For the Press Times
By Green Bay Athletics
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Green Bay women's basketball team is championship-game-bound once again!
Green Bay (28-5) advanced to the conference title game behind a magnificent performance from Natalie McNeal, who recorded her 13th career double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds). She was a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line.
Maddy Schreiber added 16, Jasmine Kondrakiewicz had 14 points, and Bailey Butler chipped in with another dozen.
Robert Morris (15-16) was paced by Isys Grady's 13 points. Green Bay's defense held Robert Morris to only 35.6 percent shooting from the field, including 27.3 percent from beyond the arc.
HOW IT HAPPENEDGreen Bay struggled to find its footing early, falling behind 13-4 before Schreiber drilled a triple from the top of the key. She made another three not long after that, pulling the Phoenix to within five at 17-12 by the end of the first quarter. McNeal started to get hot, getting an emphatic and-one that gave the Phoenix a 20-19 with 6:57 left before halftime. Less than 30 seconds later, she rattled home a mid-range floater, forcing the Colonials to call timeout.
McNeal's dominance occurred over a four-minute period in which the Phoenix went on a 9-0 run. She ended up scoring 10 points be her lonesome in the stanza. Green Bay stuffed RMU for just five points, tied for the third-fewest given up by Green Bay in a single quarter this season. The Green and White finished off a strong frame with a Kondrakiewicz layup and went to the locker room leading 33-22.
Out of intermission, both teams had trouble getting their offense going.
Jenna Guyer stepped up big off the bench, splashing a three to make it 36-27 in Green Bay's favor with 5:48 left in the third period. On the next offensive possession, Schreiber drove the lane and capped a huge and-one. Green Bay led by eight heading into the final 10 minutes and held the momentum for most of the fourth period. The screws were tightened midway through the stanza after Grady made a few plays for the Colonials. She made a free throw that pulled RMU to within six (53-47) with six minutes to go. After that, Green Bay was able to get to the charity stripe and sink eight free throws down the stretch.
Kondrakiewicz had the dagger on an and-one with just a few minutes left that put Green Bay up 59-49, and the Phoenix won its 21st straight game with a 67-53 victory.
GAME NOTES» Green Bay held a slight edge in the rebounding department, 35-34.
» The Green Bay defense forced 17 turnovers, turning it into
» Green Bay collected 11 offensive boards in the game.
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