SOUTH BEND, Ind. - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay guard and former Black Hawk basketball player Jen Wellnitz scored nine points to go along with four assists and two steals on her 21st birthday as top-ranked Notre Dame clipped the Phoenix 71-67 Thursday.
Arike Ogunbowale scored 18 points, Brianna Turner added 14 and top-ranked Notre Dame overcame poor shooting and held on to beat Green Bay 71-67 in a Preseason WNIT semifinal Thursday night.
Notre Dame (3-0) went up 7-0 but couldn't extend the lead to double digits until early in the second half and couldn't shake the Phoenix (2-1), even after going up by 17 midway through the third quarter.
"It was an amazing opportunity to get to play in South Bend against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame," Wellnitz said. "We went in there confident in our abilities and showed that we can play with some of the best competition in the country. A win on my birthday would have meant the world, but we showed we can play with the best so we might have fell down, but we are definitely not out."
Green Bay cut the lead to 63-58 with a basket by Jessica Lindstrom with 3:41 left. The Phoenix had a chance to get closer but Mehryn Kraker airballed a 3-point attempt and Turner scored on an alley-oop pass.
Kraker cut the lead to 66-61 with a 3-pointer, but Marina Mabrey made two free throws with 35 seconds left and then deflected a 3-point attempt by Lindstrom.
Lindstrom led the Phoenix with 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Wellnitz made 3 of 5 shots and hit one 3-pointer.
Arike Ogunbowale scored 18 points, Brianna Turner added 14 and top-ranked Notre Dame overcame poor shooting and held on to beat Green Bay 71-67 in a Preseason WNIT semifinal Thursday night.
Notre Dame (3-0) went up 7-0 but couldn't extend the lead to double digits until early in the second half and couldn't shake the Phoenix (2-1), even after going up by 17 midway through the third quarter.
"It was an amazing opportunity to get to play in South Bend against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame," Wellnitz said. "We went in there confident in our abilities and showed that we can play with some of the best competition in the country. A win on my birthday would have meant the world, but we showed we can play with the best so we might have fell down, but we are definitely not out."
Green Bay cut the lead to 63-58 with a basket by Jessica Lindstrom with 3:41 left. The Phoenix had a chance to get closer but Mehryn Kraker airballed a 3-point attempt and Turner scored on an alley-oop pass.
Kraker cut the lead to 66-61 with a 3-pointer, but Marina Mabrey made two free throws with 35 seconds left and then deflected a 3-point attempt by Lindstrom.
Lindstrom led the Phoenix with 20 points and 16 rebounds.
Wellnitz made 3 of 5 shots and hit one 3-pointer.
