MADISON - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay redshirt freshman Jen Wellnitz, a 2014 Black Hawk graduate, signed autographs on ticket stubs and posters after the Phoenix rolled to a 72-58 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday.
Dozens of Black Hawk fans swarmed Wellnitz after the game to seek autographs and congratulate her on her homecoming. It marked the first time Wellnitz has played against the Badgers. Wellnitz played 16 minutes and scored one point, had four assists and one rebound. She was 0 for 2 shooting, but was 1 of 2 from the free throw line.
"I'm glad it was this game because I had a lot of fans here," Wellnitz said of her extended playing time. "It was awesome. The whole community (of South Wayne) is here. If you wanted to rob South Wayne, today was the day to do it. It was awesome to see all of the familiar faces."
With the win, UW-Green Bay improved to 6-2. The Phoenix blitzed the Badgers shooting 78.6 percent in the first quarter (11-for-14) and raced out to a 28-18 lead.
Wellnitz redshirted last year for a Phoenix team, which went 28-5 last and were the Horizon League champions posting a 15-1 mark in league play.
"It was tough the first year for sure," Wellnitz said. "With the redshirt you know what you sign up for. I'm glad I did it because I learned so much from watching and being at practice," she said. "It was a good decision."
Wellnitz said the biggest difference between high school and Division I college basketball is the size and athleticism of every player on the court.
"The girls are a little bigger here," she said. "At South Wayne they were all about my size. Sometimes I was the biggest one out there. Now by far, I'm the littlest one out there. It just takes some getting used to."
Wellnitz was a three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State first-team selection and a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree and a three-time Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year. Wellnitz finished her prep career school records including points (1,580), rebounds (832), assists (459) and steals (449). As a senior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 6.2 steals per game. Wellnitz was also a two-time Division 3 state champion in the 100-meter dash.
Wellnitz said she needs to improve as a scorer. She will not force anything though as a backup point guard, who is starting to earn more playing time. She played a season-high 18 minutes against Butler Wednesday and scored a career-high six points.
"I look at it this way: Why shoot when I have so many shooters around me?," she said. "I know my role."
The Phoenix made 11 of 26 three-pointers (42.3 percent) against the Badgers. Green Bay's Jessica Lindstrom (Superior) scored a team-high 16 points and sophomore guard Allie LeClaire (Green Bay) scored 15 points and drilled 4 of 5 three-pointers. The Phoenix are averaging nine 3-pointers per game and are shooting 39.7 percent from the 3-point line this season.
Wellnitz said 3-point shooting without a doubt is the strength of the team.
"We have a bunch of slingers," she said.
Dozens of Black Hawk fans swarmed Wellnitz after the game to seek autographs and congratulate her on her homecoming. It marked the first time Wellnitz has played against the Badgers. Wellnitz played 16 minutes and scored one point, had four assists and one rebound. She was 0 for 2 shooting, but was 1 of 2 from the free throw line.
"I'm glad it was this game because I had a lot of fans here," Wellnitz said of her extended playing time. "It was awesome. The whole community (of South Wayne) is here. If you wanted to rob South Wayne, today was the day to do it. It was awesome to see all of the familiar faces."
With the win, UW-Green Bay improved to 6-2. The Phoenix blitzed the Badgers shooting 78.6 percent in the first quarter (11-for-14) and raced out to a 28-18 lead.
Wellnitz redshirted last year for a Phoenix team, which went 28-5 last and were the Horizon League champions posting a 15-1 mark in league play.
"It was tough the first year for sure," Wellnitz said. "With the redshirt you know what you sign up for. I'm glad I did it because I learned so much from watching and being at practice," she said. "It was a good decision."
Wellnitz said the biggest difference between high school and Division I college basketball is the size and athleticism of every player on the court.
"The girls are a little bigger here," she said. "At South Wayne they were all about my size. Sometimes I was the biggest one out there. Now by far, I'm the littlest one out there. It just takes some getting used to."
Wellnitz was a three-time Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State first-team selection and a three-time Associated Press All-State honoree and a three-time Six Rivers East Conference Player of the Year. Wellnitz finished her prep career school records including points (1,580), rebounds (832), assists (459) and steals (449). As a senior, she averaged 23.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 6.2 steals per game. Wellnitz was also a two-time Division 3 state champion in the 100-meter dash.
Wellnitz said she needs to improve as a scorer. She will not force anything though as a backup point guard, who is starting to earn more playing time. She played a season-high 18 minutes against Butler Wednesday and scored a career-high six points.
"I look at it this way: Why shoot when I have so many shooters around me?," she said. "I know my role."
The Phoenix made 11 of 26 three-pointers (42.3 percent) against the Badgers. Green Bay's Jessica Lindstrom (Superior) scored a team-high 16 points and sophomore guard Allie LeClaire (Green Bay) scored 15 points and drilled 4 of 5 three-pointers. The Phoenix are averaging nine 3-pointers per game and are shooting 39.7 percent from the 3-point line this season.
Wellnitz said 3-point shooting without a doubt is the strength of the team.
"We have a bunch of slingers," she said.
