by LEVELAND, Ohio (GreenBayPhoenix.com) — Green Bay closed out its weekend with an impressive 74-54 victory over Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center on Sunday, notching its third-consecutive win of the Horizon League season behind a 25-point performance from Frankie Wurtz.
A 13-2 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Wurtz got the offense on the right track early in the first quarter for Green Bay. A dominant period put the Phoenix in front 26-14, with Wurtz scoring 12 points to secure her 16th game in double figures this season.
The offense continued to click in the second, as a triple from Caitlyn Hibner more than doubled the Vikings total at 29-14. Green Bay would continue to keep a blistering pace as the half closed, leading things 43-27.
Green Bay capitalized on nine turnovers by the Vikings in the first half, outscoring the hosts 15-0 in points off turnovers.
The Phoenix continued to build its lead in the third quarter and led by as much as 25 after Wurtz collected a steal and pushed it up the court to Karly Murphy, who found Lyndsey Robson for an easy layup to bring GB’s lead to 59-34 with 3:11 left in the frame.
Green Bay sustained its control of the ball while forcing Vikings’ turnovers, but the most impressive aspect was its 21-0 advantage in points off turnovers through three quarters. The Phoenix carried a 61-40 lead into the fourth.
The Phoenix never gave the Vikings an opportunity to get back in the game and won its third-consecutive contest of the season, 74-54.
Wurtz led all scorers and tied her career high with 25 points for the third time this season, finishing 7-of-16 from the field with three triples, a perfect 8-for-8 performance at the line, six rebounds and three assists.
Hailey Oskey (Oneida Nation) scored 13 points on an efficient 5-of-6 effort from the field and Madison Wolf rounded out the double-digit scorers for GB with 12 points. Hibner finished one basket shy of a double-double, scoring eight points while securing a career-high 15 rebounds.
Green Bay finished 28-54 (51.9%) from the field, the fifth time this season the Phoenix turned in a shooting clip above 50% and the first time in Horizon League play. GB also won the battle on the boards for the third-straight game, outrebounding the Vikings 35-30.
