media guide - UWGB Phoenix Athletics

Despite Scoring Less, Offense Tougher to DefendBy: Scott Venci, GreenBayPressGazette.comMarch 14, 2013The University of Wisconsin-Green Baywomen’s basketball team doesn’t have amore productive offense than last season.At least not when looking at the stats.But while the Phoenix is averaging 6.2points fewer a game than it did in 2011-12, there is a case to be made that theoffense might be more dangerous.Opposing teams were out to stop standoutJulie Wojta last season, although nonewas too successful against the HorizonLeague’s player of the year.This season, it’s almost impossible toknow who to focus on during a game.“I definitely think it could be harder tomatch up with just based on what theyare giving us defensively,” said seniorguard Adrian Ritchie, who is leadingthe team with 14.1 points and scoreda career-high 27 against Valparaiso in aHorizon League tournament quarterfinalgame on Wednesday. “So, if we are in azone, it depends on who they are closingin on harder and things like that.“The chemistry has been built this wholeseason. Anyone is ready to step up. Weare all ready to be that player if we needto be every single night. Hopefully, it’ssomething we can use to our advantagemoving forward.”The numbers would tend to supportRitchie.Wojta led the team in scoring in 69.7percent of Green Bay’s games last season.There were only three other players theentire campaign that led the team in atleast one game.That’s not the case now.Senior forward Sarah Eichler, who enteredthis season known more as a defensivestopper than a big offensive force, has ledthe team in scoring in 30.0 percent of thegames.There have been seven players to lead theteam at least one time. Reserve forwardBreannah Ranger twice has been the highscorer, while fellow reserve forward JennyGilbertson has done it once.When Valparaiso decided not to paymuch attention to sophomore point guardMegan Lukan in a game last month, sheerupted for a career-high 22 points afterhaving scored in double figures in just twoof Green Bay’s first 23 games.She followed that game with 20 pointsagainst Detroit.“Our best player is the open player. I’msure you’ve heard that before,” said seniorforward Lydia Bauer about one of GreenBay’s favorite mottos. “Yeah, I think thatputs a really hard strain on the team thatwe are playing. It takes pressure off ourteam as well, because there is no oneplayer that is expected to score 20-pluspoints a game.“We can go 10 across five people and befine. That’s something that other teamshave to deal with and something we canuse to our advantage.”The Phoenix had this type of balancedscoring during the program’s run to itsfirst Sweet 16 two years ago.It had several big scoring options at thetime in Celeste Hoewisch, Kayla Tetschlagand Wojta along with the emergence ofRitchie, Bauer and Eichler.Wojta led the team in scoring outrighteight times, Hoewisch seven and Tetschlagsix.Seven players took turns leading theteam in scoring at some point during theseason.“I’ve noticed it more this year,” Ritchiesaid. “With five seniors, especially. It’s abigger group. It’s more of a well-roundedteam with more depth and experience.“It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s working outso far.”