by HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay women’s basketball team found itself in Highland Heights, Ky., this evening, taking on Northern Kentucky at BB&T Arena for the first time in program history to continue Horizon League play. The Phoenix (16-2, 6-0) pulled away late and received double-digit scoring production from five different players en route to an 81-73 victory.
The first half of play saw both teams continue to match one another offensively, as neither team owned a larger lead than five points through the first 20 minutes of play. The Phoenix finished 10-of-27 in the opening half and trailed host Northern Kentucky (10-7, 2-4 ) 29-28 as the teams headed to the locker room, only the third time this season Green Bay found itself down at the halfway point.
Tesha Buck (Medewakanton Sioux) led the offensive effort for Green Bay in the first half and contributed eight points to Green Bay’s tally on a 3-of-6 first-half shooting performance, including a 2-of-5 mark from beyond the arc.
The third quarter, like the two that preceded it, saw both teams refuse to grant the other an advantage. The Phoenix and the Norse were all tied up, 52-52, heading into the final quarter.
Green Bay took control of the game in the final quarter and worked its way to a nine-point lead with 5:51 remaining. Northern Kentucky, however, began to battle back and with Green Bay leading 67-63 and 2:46 remaining, Mehryn Kraker buried a three-pointer to construct a seven-point lead for the Phoenix and slow the Norse’s comeback attempt.
Following Kraker’s triple, the Phoenix sealed the victory at the line by making 11 free throws to collect its 12th-straight victory, 81-73.
Allie LeClaire led the offensive effort with 16 points on a 4-for-10 shooting performance in 35 minutes. The sophomore also knocked down 8-of-10 free throws, all of which were in the fourth quarter.
Kraker played marvelously and added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a 2-for-3 performance from long range. The junior also doled out two assists, picked up one block and collected a steal in 25 minutes.
Sophomore Jessica Lindstrom recorded the second double-double of her career in tonight’s victory, pouring in 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in 36 minutes. The forward also doled out a team-high five assists and collected two steals.
Kaili Lukan and Tesha Buck were the other double-digit scorers on the evening for Green Bay, with each of them adding 12 to Green Bay’s tally.
Green Bay will return to action on Saturday afternoon to face Wright State, who was handed its first loss in Horizon League play this evening by Milwaukee, at the Nutter Center at 1 p.m. (CT).
