Women's Basketball Loses Heartbreaker in Overtime to Valpo, 90-88

Buzzer-beating three-pointer halts Green Bay's winning streak at nine

Glover had a career-high 23 points to lead all scorers Saturday afternoon.

Jan. 19, 2008

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The Green Bay women's basketball team (13-4, 5-1) had its nine-game winning streak and 24-game Horizon League streak halted Saturday afternoon in heartbreaking fashion, as the Phoenix lost to Horizon League newcomer Valparaiso 90-88 in overtime. Valpo improves to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in league action.

After Green Bay took a one-point lead on a Kayla Groh layup with 11 seconds remaining in the extra session, Valpo came down, found Launa Hochstetler on the left side baseline, and the junior guard nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift the Crusaders.

"Give Valparaiso a lot of credit," said head coach Matt Bollant. "We made some mistakes that could have secured it for us, and hopefully we'll learn from this."

Valpo led most of the contest, leading by as much as eight in the second half before Green Bay rallied back, taking a three-point lead in the waning seconds. But on a desperation three-point attempt by Valpo's Agnieszka Kulaga, Green Bay's Kati Harty was whistled for a foul, and Kulaga made all three free throws to send the game into the extra session.

The loss shrouded a career day by Lavesa Glover, who scored 19 of her team-high 23 points in the second half. Glover was 8-for-12 from the field in the second half and made 12 of Green Bay's 16 points during its critical second-half run.

"She was great for us when we needed it," said Bollant. "She stepped up big when we needed to get back in the game."

Harty added 15 points while Rachel Porath and Groh added 14 points apiece.

The game was close throughout, as neither team had more than a double-figure lead at any point, as the contest featured 11 lead changes and three ties.

The contest had plenty of excitement in the waning ticks of the regulation clock. Green Bay had a four-point lead with 1:04 to go on a pair of free throws by Groh. After Valpo came down and made a layup, Green Bay could not get a shot during its next possession. Valpo's Kulaga drove on the left side with 10 seconds to go, but Harty tied her up, forcing a jump ball and giving the ball back to Green Bay.

After a quick foul, Harty was unable to make the front-end of a bonus situation and was then whistled for a foul, sending Hochstetler to the line. She too missed a front-end, and Green Bay's Glover was fouled on her rebound. Glover made the first to give Green Bay the three-point lead, but missed the second before Kulaga's three free throws.

Despite the extra time Green Bay just missed a season low in turnovers, committing just 13 miscues in the contest. The Phoenix also out-rebounded Valpo 34-32 and had the edge in steals and blocked shots.

Valpo's Kulaga finished with a triple-double of 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds while Launa Hochstetler added 20 points with her game-winner. Aimee Litka and Sarah Ott added 19 and 18 points, respectively.

Green Bay returns home for a contest against Loyola Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Kress Center. The game will be aired live in the Green Bay area on MYNEW32.