Phoenix keep winning the Green Bay way

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball team won their 17th consecutive game on Saturday. They topped Youngstown State 80-38 on senior night. The win clinched at least a share of a 15th straight Horizon League title for Green Bay.

15 straight titles, an accomplishment even Head Coach Kevin Borseth marveled at in the post-game press conference, and a legacy the players like Adrian Ritchie take seriously.

"We don't want to let the ball drop on our hands as a senior class especially,” Ritchie said. “So for us to be able to clinch at least a share today (Saturday) means a lot to us."

According to coach Borseth, the streak starts with the players that choose to make the Green Bay way their way.

"I don't know that they were players that a lot of schools gave a lot of attention to at that time but we felt their character and their work ethic and their abilities combined really made them a Green Bay player," Borseth said.

Adrian Ritchie defined what that Green Bay ethos is.

"We get the girls who are in the gym the longest,” Ritchie said. “Scoring the most points isn't the most important to them. It's about working hard and enjoying your teammates and playing for the girl next to you."

While the steak has survived for another season as the Phoenix remain unbeaten in league play at 12-0. The Phoenix say the league has elevated its’ level of play.

Sarah Eichler cited a recent game with second place Youngstown State as one example.

"Youngstown our freshman year did not win a single game and now they were second challenging us for first on our home floor,” Eichler said. “I think that the gap is definitely shrinking and we have to give a lot more teams respect for the things they're doing."

With five seniors nearing the end of their run, a new generation of Phoenix players must now carry the mantle.
Coach Borseth said they’ll be ready.

"I think the players under them. Their underscore as I put it are learning some valuable lessons."

Sophomore Megan Lukan is the only underclassman who starts for the Phoenix. Lukan was emotional when talking about what the senior class has meant to her and her fellow underclassmen.

“I think they've done a really good job of showing the younger girls what we need to do to become like they are,” Lukan said.