Green Bay Phoenix
Horizon (30-1, 17-1)
The 2011 run to the Sweet Sixteen is nothing compared to what this year’s Green Bay squad has in mind. The Phoenix wasted little time building off of their success last March and navigated through a tough non-conference slate unscathed. Green Bay and Coach Matt Bollant ended the regular season with a 30-1 record and are poised for an even deeper run in the NCAA Tournament this time around.
Big Wins: 11/24 vs Illinois (82-62), 11/26 vs Georgia Tech (67-62), 12/2 Marquette (66-50)
Bad Losses: 2/9 Detroit (58-70)
Coach: Matt Bollant (5 seasons at Green Bay)
Why They Can Surprise:
Green Bay has two of the best wings around. Julie Wojta is the senior leader of the Phoenix and can do just about everything. During her senior campaign, the 6-0 Francis Creek, Wisconsin native has led the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Usually that is the sign of a team that depends on one player or one player who does a little too much. But that is not the case with Wojta and Green Bay. Wojta is a very unselfish player who has plenty of teammates who can chip in. Fellow wing Adrian Ritchie is a quality outside shooter who always has the size and speed to attack the basket. The point guard situation has been slightly unsettled this season with senior Hannah Quilling and redshirt freshman Megan Lukan both earning starts. However, the situation has turned into a positive one for the Phoenix. Quilling is the calming senior leader, while Lukan is the more aggressive and brass youngster. Their numbers are quite similar and now Coach Bollant has the luxury of having two experienced point guards that he can play together when needed. Neither will score too often, but they do not need to on a team with Wojta and Ritchie.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The frontcourt has a couple double figure scorers as well in Lydia Bauer and Sarah Eichler. Bauer is a very good outside shooter and Eichler can step out beyond the arc as well. They can score, but neither is an intimidating presence on the defensive end. That fits Green Bay’s system, but Bauer is 6-0 and Eichler is 5-11. That is not much size in the frontcourt. The Phoenix will try and get up and down the floor, but the lack of a shot blocker or a big body can be a big problem on the defensive end of the floor when the Phoenix find themselves going up against a quality center in the NCAA Tournament. Junior Stephanie Sension, at 6-3, has a little more size, but the Phoenix have to sacrifice offense for defense when Sension is in the game and she only averages about a dozen minutes per contest.
Probable Starters:
Megan Lukan, Freshman, Guard, 6.8 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3.5 rpg
Adrian Ritchie, Junior, Guard, 12.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 4.5 rpg
Julie Wojta, Senior, Guard, 19.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.6 spg
Sarah Eichler, Junior, Forward, 9.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Lydia Bauer, Junior, Forward, 11.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Hannah Quilling, Senior, Guard, 4.6 ppg, 3.2 apg
Stephanie Sension, Junior, Forward, 6.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.0 (13th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 54.6 (34, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.1 (10, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.1 (142, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (32, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.5 (54, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 76.6 (14, 1)
Rebound Margin: 0.6 (150, 4)
Assists Per Game: 17.8 (7, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.9 (81, 1)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Green Bay 2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Arkansas-Little Rock
Green Bay 2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Green Bay
Green Bay 2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Baylor
Green Bay 2010 NCAA Round of 64 over Virginia
Green Bay 2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Iowa State
Green Bay 2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to LSU
Green Bay 2008 NIT First Round loss to Drake
Green Bay 2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over New Mexico
Green Bay 2007 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Connecticut
*all team stats through 3/1
