by GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com)– Senior Kaili Lukan and junior Tesha Buck (Mdewakanton Sioux) combined for 41 points, including 8-of-13 from beyond the arc, as the Green Bay women’s basketball team (1-0) defeated the Marquette Golden Eagles (0-1) in its home opener at the Kress Center on Friday night, 75-55.
The win marked the Green Bay women’s 900th all-time in program history, as it became the first Division I women’s basketball program in the state of Wisconsin to achieve the milestone in front of its home fans.
Buck poured in 15 of her 19 points in the first 20 minutes of play – coming on the strength of five 3-point field goals – and Lukan posted a pair of game highs with 22 points while tying a career-best 10 rebounds as the Phoenix outscored the Golden Eagles 39-25 in the second half to extend its home-winning streak to nine straight games.
Lukan’s double-double marked just the second of her career in a Green Bay uniform, and her first since notching 14 points and 10 rebounds on Dec. 7, 2013, at South Dakota State.
After Green Bay took a nine-point lead after one quarter of play, 21-12, Marquette made a surge in the second period, outscoring the Phoenix by three to pull within six points at the half, 36-30.
Green Bay would hit its offensive stride over the final 20 minutes; however, as it shot over 55 percent from the field while holding the Golden Eagles to just 37.5 percent (9-of-24) the rest of the way.
Sophomore Allie LeClaire added 13 points and six assists for the Phoenix, while fellow classmate Jessica Lindstrom was also a major contributor, chipping in with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds to fall just one point shy of her first-career double-double.
Aside from its stifling second-half defense, the difference in the game ultimately proved to be the outside shooting differential, as the Phoenix ended 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) from downtown while Marquette finished just 3-of-15 (20.0 percent).
Green Bay returns to the Kress Center a week from Saturday as it welcomes in the Vanderbilt Commodores for a 1 p.m. tip on Nov. 21. The game will be available on Time Warner SportsChannel.
