Young Phoenix de-thrones local Knights

The Phoenix women's basketball team defeated its inner-city rival, the St. Norbert Green Knights, 78-47, in the Phoenix exhibition opener on Oct. 31. The Phoenix feature a team with eight new players, one of which holds the Miss Wisconsin Basketball Title, freshman guard Adrian Ritchie from De Pere, Wisc. Freshman forward Sarah Eichler, another newcomer to the team, was voted Associated Press Player of the Year. Phoenix Head Coach Matt Bollant knows his team is young, but feels confident in its abilities. "These freshmen are very talented," Bollant said. "It is exciting to see them making a difference in games." Green Bay's starting roster is the second youngest in the Horizon League, only behind Youngstown State. Green Bay's one returning starter, junior guard Celeste Hoewisch, was fourth in the League in steals last season, with 80. Hoewisch feels the freshman on the team play above and beyond what people expect of normal freshman. "I don't think people that came to the game and saw them play realized they were freshman out there," Hoewisch said. "I am really excited to see what they can do." The Phoenix found its scoring stride early in the first half, going up 12-4 and shooting over 50 percent from the field six minutes into the game. A timeout by St. Norbert's Head Coach Connie Tilley immediately after proved to be ineffective, as Green Bay would hit three straight shots from behind the 3-point arc, and eventually go up 23-5 midway through the first half. The Green Knights would make a charge later in the first half, going on a 7-2 run and pulling to within 13 of the Phoenix, 25-12. The Phoenix would come out strong following a timeout, holding the Green Knights to only four points in the last four minutes of the first half. The Phoenix got things rolling offensively after the timeout, giving Green Bay a 41-21 lead going into halftime. The Phoenix had a field goal percentage of 49 in the first half, while holding St. Norbert to 35 percent. Green Bay was 4-5 from the free throw line, but committed nine personal fouls throughout the first half. The Green Knights shot 40 percent from the free throw line, making four of its 10 attempts. Sophomore guard Julie Wojta went 4-6, giving her a team high eight points to go along with her two rebounds in the first half. Five Green Bay players finished the first half with six points, while junior guard Heather Golden and Ritchie went a perfect 2-2 from the three point line. The early stages of the second half showed a relentless St. Norbert team that was not about to give up. The Green Knights would battle point-for-point with the Phoenix for the first five minutes of the second half, but would then stall. Green Bay would go on a 10-2 run midway through the second half, and did not look back. The Phoenix kept adding to its total, going up by 33 points late in the second half, and eventually winning the game, 78-47. Green Bay shot 47 percent from the field, going 16-33, while holding St. Norbert to only 38 percent for field goals. Green Bay shot 35 percent from the three point line, making eight of its 23 shots from behind the 3-point arc. The Phoenix used its time at the free throw line effectively, making eight of its 10 shots from the line. St. Norbert went 14-24 from the free throw line. Green Bay also totaled 17 steals, seven better than St. Norbert. Wojta came up big for the Phoenix, going 8-12 for field goals and a perfect 3-3 from 3-point range, giving her a game high 19 points in 25 minutes. Wojta also had a game high five rebounds, tying her with three other Green Bay players. "I think there is still a lot of things we still need to work on, but it is good to see the progress we made tonight," Wojta said