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MINNEAPOLIS – It was better to be in it then to never be close at all.
That’s what the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team can take from its 75-58 loss to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 20 in front of more than 10,000 fans at Williams Arena.
The final score looks like the lopsided outcome one might expect when a No. 13 seed must play on the home court of a No. 4 seed.
It was far from it.
The Phoenix led the heavily favored Gophers after the first quarter. It led at halftime. It was up after the third quarter.
But those last 10 minutes were difficult to watch for the Phoenix faithful who made the trip here.
Everything just unraveled so quickly. In 5 minutes, 11 seconds, to be exact.
UWGB led 49-45 entering the final quarter. By the time it scored its first points of the fourth, Minnesota had rattled off 14 straight to take a 10-point lead with 4:49 left, energized by a rabid crowd and a few generous calls from the officials.
The Gophers scored 22 of the first 26 points to turn a nailbiter into a late blowout.
“Our coaching staff couldn’t be more proud of our approach, about the way we started, about truly the first three quarters of this game,” UWGB coach Kayla Karius said. “It certainly was a really loud atmosphere. I don’t know what the attendance was, but that is by far the loudest crowd we have played against all year, and a very small portion were rooting for us.
“I’m really proud of the way they stayed poised, even during some difficult stretches there, and remained calm. We kind of got it back on track. Overall, we couldn’t be more proud of what they showed today.”
If just not for that final quarter.
UWGB missed its first six shots and turned the ball over five times. There were a few errant passes. A travel. An offensive foul.
While senior guard Maddy Skorupski went 4-for-6 from the field and scored 9 points, everybody else went a combined 0-for-9 and went scoreless.
“Just looking at the stats, they hit shots and we didn’t,” Skorupski said. “We had some costly turnovers. Some shots that we are used to hitting that just wouldn’t fall for us.
“They did what they do, and we were struggling to connect on our shots.”
Minnesota, which missed multiple layups in the first half and shot 33.3% overall the first 24 minutes, finally got its offense untracked in the final 24.
It was downright dominant in the fourth quarter, shooting 12-for-16 overall and 2-for-3 from 3 while putting up 30 points against a UWGB squad that entered ranked 47th in the nation in scoring defense.
Minnesota ended up getting the balanced scoring its offense has been known for this season.
Four players scored 10 or more points, including 21 from Amaya Battle, 19 from Sophie Hart and 16 from Mara Braun.
Those three started the game a combined 3-for-11 but ended it shooting 8-for-10 in the fourth quarter.
It was all about that darn quarter.
“I couldn’t even go back and tell you play-by-play, but I do know there were a couple opportunities we had at the rim that we didn’t convert on,” Karius said. “There were some calls that were tough and didn’t go our way. I’m not sure if they were wrong or not, but they were tough calls, and it didn’t help the momentum.
“When they started to score in the paint and got that going for them, then they just kept scoring layups and layups. Some of it was we were getting up and taking things away, and we gambled on a couple of things. But, overall, we told them we are trying to focus on the first three quarters. Being up 4 going into the fourth is exactly where you want to be against an NCAA Tournament team on their home floor.”
For a good while, it looked like UWGB would be the first No. 13 seed to beat a No. 4 since fellow Horizon League member Wright State shocked Alabama in 2021.
Instead, the Phoenix walked away with another opening-round loss in the Big Dance.
It has come up empty in each of its last eight trips and was seeking its first tournament win since 2012, which was one year after Karius helped lead the program to its only Sweet 16 appearance as a senior.
Making the tournament as a mid-major is no small feat. But now UWGB must figure out a way to win at least one game the way it did for three straight years from 2010 to 2012.
It’s difficult to do as a No. 13 seed, but the Phoenix was a No. 8 seed when it lost to No. 9 Purdue in 2017. It was a No. 7 when it lost to No. 10 Minnesota in 2018.
“It’s really just about experience,” senior forward-center Jenna Guyer said. “From last year, I knew I had that experience. We were up against Alabama last year. We were up against Tennessee at half or down by one at halftime of that game.
“We have been in those situations, and I have been it that situation. I just think this experience for most of the team is going to be crucial for next year. Knowing how this feels and knowing that in those moments you just have to sell out and the urgency to get things done. Especially in that fourth quarter. Like, we are not done yet. There is still another quarter to go. That experience is really one of the best teachers for us.”
Karius and her staff were extremely busy in the NCAA transfer portal last offseason while attempting to put together a team that lost seven seniors.
It landed some impact players, including a trio of senior starters in Skorupski, guard Kamy Peppler and forward Carley Duffney.
The Phoenix will lose another six to graduation this season, and although there could be a few more notable portal pickups, it might not have to be quite as hectic with four incoming freshmen.
“I think we are doing things the right way,” Karius said. “It starts with having the right people in your locker room. Not just the most talented, but the right fit. Our coaching staff will be making sure every year now that the right people are there. Certainly, veteran players help. What was really impressive about this group is that only half of them had played in an NCAA Tournament or qualified.
“Now that they have been here, I’m glad our underclassmen got the experience that they did in this type of tournament setting. That will be crucial going forward.”
Perhaps that NCAA win is just around the corner, all with a coach that UWGB feels fortunate to be leading the way.
“She is amazing,” UWGB athletic director Josh Moon said of Karius. “She is exactly what we want in a leader. Her composure and how she got this team ready is just unbelievable.
“The belief, you could just tell they were fearless today.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB women's basketball NCAA upset bid slips away in final quarter
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That’s what the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team can take from its 75-58 loss to Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 20 in front of more than 10,000 fans at Williams Arena.
The final score looks like the lopsided outcome one might expect when a No. 13 seed must play on the home court of a No. 4 seed.
It was far from it.
The Phoenix led the heavily favored Gophers after the first quarter. It led at halftime. It was up after the third quarter.
But those last 10 minutes were difficult to watch for the Phoenix faithful who made the trip here.
Everything just unraveled so quickly. In 5 minutes, 11 seconds, to be exact.
UWGB led 49-45 entering the final quarter. By the time it scored its first points of the fourth, Minnesota had rattled off 14 straight to take a 10-point lead with 4:49 left, energized by a rabid crowd and a few generous calls from the officials.
The Gophers scored 22 of the first 26 points to turn a nailbiter into a late blowout.
“Our coaching staff couldn’t be more proud of our approach, about the way we started, about truly the first three quarters of this game,” UWGB coach Kayla Karius said. “It certainly was a really loud atmosphere. I don’t know what the attendance was, but that is by far the loudest crowd we have played against all year, and a very small portion were rooting for us.
“I’m really proud of the way they stayed poised, even during some difficult stretches there, and remained calm. We kind of got it back on track. Overall, we couldn’t be more proud of what they showed today.”
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If just not for that final quarter.
UWGB missed its first six shots and turned the ball over five times. There were a few errant passes. A travel. An offensive foul.
While senior guard Maddy Skorupski went 4-for-6 from the field and scored 9 points, everybody else went a combined 0-for-9 and went scoreless.
“Just looking at the stats, they hit shots and we didn’t,” Skorupski said. “We had some costly turnovers. Some shots that we are used to hitting that just wouldn’t fall for us.
“They did what they do, and we were struggling to connect on our shots.”
Minnesota, which missed multiple layups in the first half and shot 33.3% overall the first 24 minutes, finally got its offense untracked in the final 24.
It was downright dominant in the fourth quarter, shooting 12-for-16 overall and 2-for-3 from 3 while putting up 30 points against a UWGB squad that entered ranked 47th in the nation in scoring defense.
Minnesota ended up getting the balanced scoring its offense has been known for this season.
Four players scored 10 or more points, including 21 from Amaya Battle, 19 from Sophie Hart and 16 from Mara Braun.
Those three started the game a combined 3-for-11 but ended it shooting 8-for-10 in the fourth quarter.
It was all about that darn quarter.
“I couldn’t even go back and tell you play-by-play, but I do know there were a couple opportunities we had at the rim that we didn’t convert on,” Karius said. “There were some calls that were tough and didn’t go our way. I’m not sure if they were wrong or not, but they were tough calls, and it didn’t help the momentum.
“When they started to score in the paint and got that going for them, then they just kept scoring layups and layups. Some of it was we were getting up and taking things away, and we gambled on a couple of things. But, overall, we told them we are trying to focus on the first three quarters. Being up 4 going into the fourth is exactly where you want to be against an NCAA Tournament team on their home floor.”
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UWGB looking for that elusive tournament win
For a good while, it looked like UWGB would be the first No. 13 seed to beat a No. 4 since fellow Horizon League member Wright State shocked Alabama in 2021.
Instead, the Phoenix walked away with another opening-round loss in the Big Dance.
It has come up empty in each of its last eight trips and was seeking its first tournament win since 2012, which was one year after Karius helped lead the program to its only Sweet 16 appearance as a senior.
Making the tournament as a mid-major is no small feat. But now UWGB must figure out a way to win at least one game the way it did for three straight years from 2010 to 2012.
It’s difficult to do as a No. 13 seed, but the Phoenix was a No. 8 seed when it lost to No. 9 Purdue in 2017. It was a No. 7 when it lost to No. 10 Minnesota in 2018.
“It’s really just about experience,” senior forward-center Jenna Guyer said. “From last year, I knew I had that experience. We were up against Alabama last year. We were up against Tennessee at half or down by one at halftime of that game.
“We have been in those situations, and I have been it that situation. I just think this experience for most of the team is going to be crucial for next year. Knowing how this feels and knowing that in those moments you just have to sell out and the urgency to get things done. Especially in that fourth quarter. Like, we are not done yet. There is still another quarter to go. That experience is really one of the best teachers for us.”
Karius and her staff were extremely busy in the NCAA transfer portal last offseason while attempting to put together a team that lost seven seniors.
It landed some impact players, including a trio of senior starters in Skorupski, guard Kamy Peppler and forward Carley Duffney.
The Phoenix will lose another six to graduation this season, and although there could be a few more notable portal pickups, it might not have to be quite as hectic with four incoming freshmen.
“I think we are doing things the right way,” Karius said. “It starts with having the right people in your locker room. Not just the most talented, but the right fit. Our coaching staff will be making sure every year now that the right people are there. Certainly, veteran players help. What was really impressive about this group is that only half of them had played in an NCAA Tournament or qualified.
“Now that they have been here, I’m glad our underclassmen got the experience that they did in this type of tournament setting. That will be crucial going forward.”
Perhaps that NCAA win is just around the corner, all with a coach that UWGB feels fortunate to be leading the way.
“She is amazing,” UWGB athletic director Josh Moon said of Karius. “She is exactly what we want in a leader. Her composure and how she got this team ready is just unbelievable.
“The belief, you could just tell they were fearless today.”
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB women's basketball NCAA upset bid slips away in final quarter
Continue reading...
