By Kendall Wingler
Sports Capital Journalism Program
INDIANAPOLIS – Green Bay and Purdue Fort Wayne will meet in the Horizon League Women’s championship game at Corteva Coliseum on Tuesday with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Green Bay seeks its 15th tournament championship and another step toward cementing its conference dynasty. Purdue Fort Wayne is chasing its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, making this first Horizon League title game appearance the biggest game in program history.
Green Bay 67, Robert Morris 53
Top-seeded Green Bay (28-5) entered the semifinal with a 20-game winning streak, continuing its dominance as the league’s most successful program. Under first-year head coach Kayla Karius, the Phoenix have upheld their legacy, extending their NCAA Division I record streak to 47 consecutive winning seasons, second only to Tennessee in women’s college basketball.
Green Bay has long been the gold standard of the Horizon League, with an astounding 25 regular-season championships and 14 tournament titles.
“We have a very high standard in this program and those who come here know that and that is why we have been as successful as we have been,” Karius said after the semifinal victory. Green Bay has made 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, posting a 6-19 overall record.
Robert Morris (15-16) put up an early fight, leading 17-12 after the first quarter, but the Phoenix quickly turned the game around in the second quarter with their signature stifling defense, holding the Colonials to just 5 points while scoring 21 of their own. Green Bay took a 33-22 lead into halftime and never looked back, maintaining control in the third quarter (43-35) before closing out a 67-53 victory.
Natalie McNeal led Green Bay with a double-double performance: 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. McNeal, a key piece of Green Bay’s well-balanced attack, has stepped up as a leader in Karius’ first season at the helm.
Green Bay’s defensive pressure and three-point shooting continue to be its defining traits. This season, the Phoenix averaged 27.7 field goals per game and shot 34.2% from three-point range. Their ability to push in transition and shoot from anywhere has been a challenge for every opponent.
With their 15th straight win over RMU, Green Bay advances to yet another Horizon League championship game in search of a 15th conference tournament title.
Purdue Fort Wayne 83. Cleveland State 65
Second-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne and third-seeded Cleveland State split their regular-season matchups, making this a highly anticipated meeting for a chance to play for the Horizon League title.
Under fourth-year head coach Maria Marchesano, Purdue Fort Wayne (25-7) has transformed into one of the league’s top contenders. The Mastodons have yet to make an NCAA Tournament appearance, but this year’s squad is on the brink of history, thanks to its high-powered offense and effective perimeter shooting.
“We have a great combination of veterans who have grown up in our program and veterans who have grown up not in our program but that have a lot of valuable experience,” Marchesano, the Horizon League coach of the year, said after the game.
Purdue Fort Wayne entered the game with a 44.4% field goal percentage and a 36.9% three-point percentage, one of the best in the league. The Mastodons came out firing, jumping to a 19-12 first-quarter lead and extending their advantage to 48-34 at halftime. They continued to dictate the tempo, maintaining a 60-48 lead after the third quarter before pulling away.
Amellia Bromenschenkel led five Mastodons in double figures with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Lauren Ross scored 18 on 6-for-13 shooting, with all of her field goals coming from 3-point range. Audra Emmerson scored 14, Sydney Freeman had 11 and Jazzlyn Linbo added 10. Purdue Fort Wayne made 58% of its shots in the first half, 52.4% overall, and made 53.6% of its 3-point attempts.
Cleveland State (24-9) was led by Mickayla Perdue, who scored 33 points.
