Women's Basketball Holds Off Youngstown State, 85-80

Game features 52 fouls, 65 free throw attempts

Kayla Groh led Green Bay with 19 points Saturday.

Jan. 12, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay women's basketball team (12-3, 4-0) won its eighth straight game Saturday afternoon but not without a fight from Youngstown State, as the Phoenix held off a second-half rally to top the Penguins 85-80 at the Kress Center.

Kayla Groh led Green Bay with 19 points while Kati Harty tallied 16 points. Heather Golden had a career-best for the second straight outing, pouring in 15 points off the bench. Rachel Porath, who was hindered by foul trouble, managed to post 11 points in 19 minutes, including a rare four-point play in the second half.

After taking a 44-24 lead at the halftime break, Green Bay had to battle to fend off the Penguins, who rallied for 56 second-half points. Youngstown State managed to pull within three points with 22 seconds left, but a pair of free throws by Groh with 21 seconds left sealed the win.

The Penguins lead early by five until a 14-0 Phoenix run put the hosts up 16-7 with 12:23 to go, a lead Green Bay would hold for good. A 17-2 run to close the half gave Green Bay a 20-point lead at the break, with Golden chipping in seven points in the spurt.

Green Bay boasted a 15-point lead, 76-61, with 5:28 to go in the game before Youngstown State rallied with a 12-2 run over the next three and a half minutes to close to 78-73. From there, Green Bay was able to wear out the clock and connect on 5-6 free throws down the stretch.

Youngstown State (7-8, 2-2) was led by Heather Karner's 20 points, while Tiara Scott added 19 points, aided by a 7-of-7 effort from the free throw line.

The game was hindered by 52 personal fouls, resulting in 65 free throw attempts. Although five players had four personal fouls with just under 10 minutes left in the game, only three players fouled out: Youngstown State's Lauren Branson and Ashley Bendleton and Green Bay's Porath.

Despite allowing 56 points in the second half, Green Bay's defense posted a season-high seven blocked shots and forced 24 turnovers.

Green Bay returns to action Jan. 17 when the Phoenix takes on Butler at 6 p.m. central at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.