by By: Stephen Wagner
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay defense shined this afternoon at the Kress Events Center, holding Vanderbilt to only three points in the final quarter of play to defeat the Commodores (1-2) 58-56. Green Bay (2-0) trailed by as many as 11 points in the rematch of last year’s overtime thriller, but locked in defensively to erase the deficit and defend the confines of its home court once again.
Green Bay entered the fourth quarter trailing Vanderbilt by eight points and had just 10 minutes to deplete the disadvantage and move to 2-0 on the year. The Phoenix battled its way back into the game took its first lead (55-54) since the second quarter after Allie LeClaire drove to the basket and scored two of her 12 points with 1:54 remaining.
Once in the lead, it looked as though there was no turning back for a Green Bay team determined to win, as the Phoenix had allowed just one point to be scored by the Commodores in the first 9:44 seconds of the fourth quarter. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Vanderbilt’s Minta Spears made it a one possession game after driving to the basket and laying it in. The Commodores then pressured the Phoenix into a turnover with 11 seconds left, forcing a defensive stance from Green Bay to win the game.
Senior Kaili Lukan smothered Jenkins on the final possession, stealing the ball as time expired and solidifying a 58-56 Green Bay victory.
“I think it says that we are relentless, and we’ve been in quite a few of those games last year, Buck said.” “This year we learned from those.”
“The biggest thing is our defense. I think we are known for our defense. No matter if we are shooting well or if we are shooting bad, it’s always going to be defense, defense, defense.”
Junior Tesha Buck (Mdewakanton Sioux) led all scorers with 16 points, netting 5-of-8 from the field including 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Green Bay also received double-digit production from sophomore Allie LeClaire (12 points), sophomore Jessica Lindstrom (11 points) and junior Sam Terry (10 points).
The Phoenix was held to a 36-19 disadvantage in rebounds but made up for it by forcing 25 turnovers, nine of which were steals, while only allowing 12 turnovers for itself on the afternoon.
Green Bay will now hit the road for the Paradise Jam, where it will take part in three games in three days against Virginia (Nov. 26), Tulane (Nov. 27) and Rutgers (Nov. 28). Following the tournament, Green Bay will be on the road for three-straight contests, bringing it to six total game before the Phoenix returns to the Kress Center on Dec. 16 against Loyola.
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