March 20, 2008

Drake game notes

GREEN BAY GAME DAY - WNIT FIRST ROUND
Game 32: Green Bay vs. Drake
Saturday, March 22 • 4 p.m. CT
Knapp Center • Des Moines, Iowa

TELEVISION None
INTERNET AUDIO http://uwgbathletics.cstv.com/multimedia/wbb-audio.html
INTERNET VIDEO http://godrakebulldogs.com
LIVESTATS http://godrakebulldogs.com

The Green Bay women's basketball team (26-5) returns to where it started the 2007-08 regular season, as the Phoenix will take on Drake Saturday, March 22 in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The winner of the game will face the University of Illinois Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. in Champaign, Ill.

The Phoenix makes its fourth appearance in the WNIT this season and second in three seasons. During the team's first appearance in the former eight-team version of the tournament in 1992, Green Bay was the consolation champions with a 2-1 record after falling to eventual champion Georgia Tech in the first game. Green Bay took on Illinois in 2001 and Iowa State in 2006 in first-round setbacks.

Saturday's contest will air live on AM 1400 WDUZ "The Fan" in the Green Bay area, with Bruce VandenPlas on the call. Live audio is also available here. Live stats and video are also available through Drake Athletics' website.

Phoenix Fast Fact: Green Bay owns a 51-44 record all-time against members of the 48-team WNIT field. This season, the Phoenix took on three WNIT foes, posting a 1-2 mark (win over Drake, losses to Marquette and Wisconsin). Green Bay is 2-1 all-time against Drake and 1-4 versus Illinois, who awaits the winner of Saturday's contest.

Scouting Green Bay: Perennially one of the nation's winningest teams, Green Bay currently boasts a 26-5 mark and has won 22 of its last 24 games. The Phoenix boasts the third-longest consecutive winning seasons streak in the country with 31 straight winning seasons. The 2007-08 year also marks the team's ninth-straight 20-win campaign for the Phoenix.

Junior guard Rachel Porath was selected to the Horizon League's first-team and has been named the league's player of the week three times. This season Porath is averaging 13.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. Her team-best 71 steals this season ranks among the national leaders.

Senior guard Kayla Groh continues to bring versatility to the Phoenix in her third year as a starter. Groh, a second-team all-league performer, leads the team with 14.2 ppg while adding 4.2 rpg. She leads the Horizon League with an .856 free throw percentage, which ranks 25th in the NCAA, and is 61st in the nation with a 1.70 assist/turnover ratio.

Junior center and second-team all-league selection Lavesa Glover has found success statistically in her first campaign as a starter. She is third on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (5.8 rpg). She ranks 13th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.569).

Scouting Drake: The Bulldogs lost in the championship game of the MVC tournament to Illinois State, 70-62. Lindsay Whorton led the way with 17 points in the setback, while all-tournament team selection Jill Martin added 16 points and seven rebounds. Monique Jones also earned all-tournament team accolades.

The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Jill Martin, who is ranked in the NCAA in both scoring and rebounding with team bests of 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Lindsay Whorton is also averaging double figures with 13.6 ppg.

Amy Stephens is in her fifth season as the head coach at Drake. She owns an 83-71 mark during that time and has led the Bulldogs to four postseason appearances.
All-time series: Green Bay leads, 2-1
Green Bay vs. Drake at Des Moines: 1-1
Green Bay's overall streak: W1