Nov. 15, 2007

Illinois State game notes in PDF Format

PHOENIX GAME DAY
Game 2: Green Bay vs. Illinois State
Thursday, Nov. 15 • 7:05 p.m. CT
Redbird Arena • Normal, Ill.

TELEVISION none
RADIO AM 1440 WNFL in Green Bay area
INTERNET AUDIO http://uwgbathletics.cstv.com/multimedia/wbb-audio.html
LIVESTATS http://goredbirds.cstv.com

Game 3: Green Bay vs. Missouri State
Saturday, Nov. 17 • 1:05 p.m. CT
Hammons Center • Springfield, Mo.

TELEVISION none
RADIO AM 1440 WNFL in Green Bay area
INTERNET AUDIO http://uwgbathletics.cstv.com/multimedia/wbb-audio.html

The Green Bay women's basketball team (1-0) looks to continue its success against the Missouri Valley Conference this week when the Phoenix takes on Illinois State Thursday before challenging Missouri State Saturday to wrap up its season-opening road swing.

This weekend's contests 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.

Phoenix Fast Fact: Green Bay has played 598 games at the Division I level, owning a 416-182 mark for a .700 winning percentage. The team's game at Missouri State Nov. 17 will be the team's 600th as a Division I team.

Scouting Green Bay: Green Bay got the 2007-08 season off on the right foot as the Phoenix defeated 2007 NCAA tournament participant Drake 78-66. Senior Kayla Groh led the Phoenix with 20 points, her third 20-point game of her career. Four other Phoenix players reached double figures in scoring, including Rachel Porath and Kati Harty who had 15 points apiece.

In their first collegiate starts against Drake Nov. 9, juniors Kati Harty and Lavesa Glover found their offensive groove. Both players matched their career highs in scoring, as Harty tallied 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Glover poured in 13 points with a 50 percent effort from the field.

With the 78-66 win over Drake Nov. 9, first-year head coach Matt Bollant becomes the first Phoenix coach to begin their career 1-0. Carol Hammerle dropped her opening game to Ripon in 1973 (40-36 in overtime) and Kevin Borseth lost to Arizona 84-65 in 1998. Of note, both Hammerle and Borseth were included in the NCAA's "Women's Basketball's Finest" publication commemorating 25 years of women's basketball for their coaching achievements.

Scouting Illinois State: The Redbirds, picked to finish second in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll, defeated Eastern Illinois 81-68 Nov. 11. Kristi Cirone led the way with a game-best 23 points and eight assists. Tiffany Hudson chipped in 18 points while Shala Jackson tallied 10 points off the bench. Thursday marks the fifth time Green Bay will face Illinois State and the third time in as many years. Of note, last year's contest was almost cancelled due to weather conditions; the game was rescheduled for Dec. 22, where the Phoenix won 92-64 in Green Bay.
All-time series: Green Bay leads, 4-0
At Normal, Ill.: 2-0
Overall streak: W4

Scouting Missouri State: The Bears Opened the 2007-08 season with a 92-55 setback to No. 22 Texas Nov. 11. Tahnee Balerio led Missouri State with 20 points while Maggie Dwyer chipped in 16 points. Despite a storied history between Missouri State and Green Bay's men's basketball programs, this will be the first meeting between the Phoenix women and the Bears.

All-time series: First meeting