March 14, 2008

Box Score

Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay women's basketball team (26-5) had its 13-game winning streak snapped Friday evening as the top-seeded Phoenix was overwhelmed in a 90-66 loss to Cleveland State in the semifinal round of the 2008 Horizon League Championship.

Green Bay must now await its postseason fate, as the team has slim hopes of securing an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament. According to guidelines set by the WNIT, Green Bay, as the regular season champion for the Horizon League, would receive a berth in their 48-team field.

Cleveland State (18-13) advances to face Wright State in Sunday's title game as both teams will vie for a first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The Cleveland State win over the Phoenix is the fourth ever for the Vikings in the 47-game history of the series and just second in Green Bay.

Green Bay was led by Lavesa Glover's 17 points to lead four players in double figures. Kati Harty added 15 points, aided by a career-best 8-of-8 mark from the free throw line, while Kayla Groh added 14 points. Rachel Porath tallied 11 points.

Cleveland State was led by Robyn Hoying's 22-point effort, including a 6-of-8 mark from three-point range. Kailey Klein added 18 points, while Dominique Butler and Jessica Roque added 14 points apiece. The Vikings drilled 13 three-pointers in the contest, shooting 52 percent from downtown.

A pair of critical Cleveland State runs spelled Green Bay's demise. The Vikings, trailing 21-18 with 7:24 to go in the first, started an 11-0 run with a trio of threes, including a pair by Hoying. The Vikings shot 61.5 percent from the field to take a 42-26 lead at the break.

Green Bay came out of the halftime break with ferocity, going 5-of-6 to start to cut the lead to seven, 44-37, with 16:13 to go. Cleveland State tried to pull away, but with nine minutes to go, an Erin Templin three-pointer put Green Bay within 11, 68-57.

But Cleveland State saved its best for last, rattling off a 12-0 run over the next four minutes, with four players contributing, to secure an 80-57 lead with 5:11 to play. From there, Green Bay got no closer than 18 points.

For the game, Cleveland State shot 59.6 percent from the field and went 15-of-17 at the free throw line. Green Bay finished shooting 42.6 percent from the floor while the Vikings out-rebounded the Phoenix 33-22.