Women’s Basketball Games of the Weekend 12/23 – 12/25
It isn’t that we think not many games are worth watching this weekend. The two games below happen to be the ONLY games being played Friday and there are no games over the Christmas weekend. Things do pick up after Christmas, albeit slowly, through the New Year.
No. 19 GREEN BAY at WISCONSIN (8:30 p.m. Friday at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin)
The Phoenix have risen to a strong showing in the early stages of the women’s basketball season. Green Bay (9-0) proved 11 days off wouldn’t make the team rusty, as the Phoenix bombed Ball State 80-39 on Dec. 20 behind Julie Wojta’s 19 points and 12 rebounds. This would be just the second time Green Bay has finished unbeaten in non-conference play should they win this game, and the Phoenix have a 28-game win streak riding on this. Wisconsin (4-7) has struggled in its last five games, dropping three to Colorado, Kansas and Drake. In the 65-54 loss to Drake, Jade Davis and Taylor Wurtz each scored 12 points.
NJIT at MINNESOTA (8 p.m. Friday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (5-5), members of the Great West Conference, is off to a respectable start. The Highlanders lost three straight to Lehigh, Rider and Colgate before rallying for a 66-59 overtime win against St. Peter’s. The Peacocks haven’t won a game yet this year, but at least that losing streak was resolved. For all intents and purposes, this game might be a blowout, but Minnesota (7-6) has had its share of struggles this year. The Golden Gophers beat Air Force, Alcorn State and Harvard before losing 72-63 to Denver in their last game. Freshman Rachel Banham led the way with 14 points in the loss.
