GREEN BAY, Wis – Despite leading by as many as 12 points and forcing overtime, Wright State could not overcome No. 1 seed Wisconsin-Green Bay as the Phoenix took WSU’s crown as Horizon League champs by winning 86-77 Sunday.
“You’ve got to give (UW-Green Bay) credit,” said WSU head coach Mike Bradbury, “they have good players, they play hard, they play the right way and it’s usually pretty competitive when we play.”
Wright State guard Tay'ler Mingo, the Horizon League's regular season Player of the Year, led all players with 27 points, six assists and five rebounds while Breanna Stucke added 18.
Tournament MVP Tesha Buck led the Phoenix with a double-double performance of 24 points, 10 rebounds.
Wright State ended Green Bay’s three-year run as Horizon League champs last year with a win in Green Bay in the title game. The Phoenix exacted its revenge by outrebounding the Raiders 47-33.
With 27 seconds left in the game, Mingo drove to the basket and made a tough lay-up to tie the game at 73 sending it to overtime.
“She’s kind of who we lean on and she played well,” said Bradbury. “She kept us in it in tough times and she gave us a chance to win.”
In overtime, Allie LeClaire drained a 3-pointer to put the Phoenix up 77-74 with 2:53 left in the game. Mingo came back with a transition lay-up or WSU to cut UWGB's lead to one, but back to back baskets by Sam Terry and Buck allowed for the Phoenix to close out the game. The Raiders missed their final five field goal attempts in overtime.
The Phoenix received 42 points off of the bench and had five players score in double figures. Green Bay out-scored Wright State in the paint 32-28.
With 11:40 left in the first half, UWGB led 13-12, but gave up a 15-2 run to WSU in the next 2:42. The Phoenix responded with a 15-0 run to take a three-point lead.
WSU closed the half out on an 8-4 run to gain a 35-34 advantage at the half. Both teams averaged 43 percent in the half, but Green Bay out-rebounded WSU by 11 with eight offensive rebounds and eight second-chance points.
Green Bay started the second half with two offensive rebounds by Megan Lukan and a second chance jump shot by Terry to begin a 15-6 run over the next 6:47.
With 9:26 left in the game, Courtney Boyd hit a 3-pointer for WSU to tie the game at 51 after a 10-2 run by the Raiders. A three-point play by Jessica Lindstrom put the Phoenix back up by three with 9:26 left.
For the last 6:37 of the game the game was tied on five occasions but WSU never gained an advantage over the Phoenix.
“We have a good bunch,” said Bradbury. “They stick together and fight for each other. I told them that’s what I’m most proud of.”
The Raiders will most likely make an appearance in the WNIT after Sunday’s loss. The WNIT selections will be announced Monday evening.
“We’ll go back and get this out of our system,” said Bradbury. “And start preparing for the next one.”
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