Phoenix drops mid-major matchup at Illinois State

NORMAL, Ill. – The Green Bay women's basketball team erased a double-digit first-half deficit and carried a lead into halftime, but Illinois State used a strong second half to pull away for a 75-66 victory Wednesday night at CEFCU Arena. The Phoenix dropped to 1-2 on the season with the loss.

Maddy Skorupski led all scorers with 24 points while adding four assists and three steals. Elisa Mevius contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and two assists, while Kristina Ouimette chipped in eight points.

Illinois State was led by Danyella Mporokoso with 20 points and Nevaeh Thomas, who posted 17 points and 12 rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Illinois State built a 19-9 lead midway through the opening quarter, Green Bay closed the period on a 6-0 run. Jorey Buwalda scored four straight points before Skorupski converted a layup off a steal to trim the deficit to four. The Redbirds took a 22-15 advantage into the second quarter.

Illinois State stretched its lead back to nine early in the second, but the Phoenix responded with a 9-0 run. Consecutive baskets from Skorupski and Ouimette sparked the surge before Mevius buried a three-pointer to tie the game at 24-24. Mevius later scored the final five Green Bay points of the half, including another triple, helping the Phoenix take a 29-27 lead into the locker room while holding the Redbirds to just five second-quarter points.

The third quarter featured six ties and five lead changes. Illinois State regained the lead early before Green Bay answered repeatedly, tying the game at 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42. Skorupski's jumper with 1:02 remaining briefly put the Phoenix ahead 46-45, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the Redbirds sent Green Bay into the fourth trailing 48-46.

The Phoenix remained within striking distance throughout the final quarter. Skorupski's three-pointer with 7:16 remaining cut the deficit to 54-52, but Illinois State answered with a 9-0 run to create separation. Green Bay connected on four fourth-quarter triples and got as close as eight in the final minute, but the Redbirds sealed the win at the free-throw line. Illinois State scored 27 points in the fourth quarter and went 19-for-24 at the stripe for the game.

 

UP NEXT
Green Bay will look to get back in the win column this Saturday when they host in-state rival Wisconsin at 1 p.m.