by By: Joey Daniels (@GBPhoenixWBB)
ROCHESTER, Mich. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Seizing the outright Horizon League Championship for the 15th time over its current 17-straight league title run, the Green Bay women’s basketball team was able to pull away from Oakland on Thursday night, winning 70-55 at the Athletics Center O’Rena.
Green Bay (23-4, 13-1 HL) shot 55.2 percent (16-29) in the first half and took an 18-point lead into halftime, before using an 11-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from the pesky Golden Grizzlies (11-16, 5-9 HL).
Ellen Edison banked a three-pointer from the top of the key with her team only leading 45-40, right before Mehryn Kraker knocked down a transition three to kickstart the 11-0 run. Oakland, currently the only team to beat Green Bay in league play this season, wouldn’t come closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
Sam Terry led the offensive efforts for the Phoenix, which has now won six games in a row, finishing with a team-high 16 points. Tesha Buck (Prairie Island Indian Community) tallied 15 points and a career-high eight assists, contributing a large chunk of the 22 total team assists for the Phoenix.
Kraker totaled just above her season average with 14 points and six rebounds. All nine players who dressed for Green Bay scored in the game.
In the earlier meeting between the two teams at the Kress Center, Oakland shot 36 percent and scored 70 points, in Thursday’s game the Golden Grizzlies also shot 36 percent, but only scored 55 points. Oakland was led by Olivia Nash’s 16 points and six rebounds.
Green Bay will now travel to Youngstown State, for what could be its last true road game of the season. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. ET) at the Beeghly Center.
