Green Bay's historic season ends in Sweet 16

DALLAS, Texas -- The end of the road stopped in Dallas for fifth-seeded No. 13/11 Green Bay (34-2) as the Phoenix fell to top-seeded No. 3/3 Baylor (34-2) 86-76, on Sunday in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.  The legacy will live on though as the best team to come out of Green Bay in its 38-year program made history in 2011.

Green Bay became the first women’s basketball team in Horizon League and Phoenix history to advance to the Sweet 16.   

Co-Horizon League Players of the Year Kayla Tetschlag and Celeste Hoewisch led their team to a program-best 34 wins and a Horizon League Championship Title to go along with their historical run in the NCAA Tournament to finish off their senior season.

Tetschlag notched her third consecutive double-double performance of the tournament leading the Phoenix with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Hoewisch finished with 20 points.

This is the second time this season that Tetschlag has had three straight double-double performances.

Green Bay came within three points of Baylor three times in the second half, but sophomore Brittney Griner had an answer for all three occasions, scoring a game and career-high 40 points.

Sarah Eichler hit a three-pointer two minutes into the second half to bring the Phoenix within three points of the Lady Bears before Griner answered with a jumper to make it a five point game.

A big three-pointer by Hoewisch with 13:32 remaining brought the Phoenix to within three one last time before Griner quickly answered with a layup, drawing the foul and making the extra point to start a 14-point run for the Lady Bears that lasted to the 9:55 mark.

Baylor was up by as much as 18 points with 8:34 left in the second half, but the Phoenix didn’t give up and fought back to cut Baylor’s lead to ten with 21 seconds left in the game.    

Griner posted a double-double grabbing 10 rebounds in addition to her 40 points for the Lady Bears.

Baylor advanced the regional final against Big 12 foe Texas A&M on Tuesday. It will be the fourth meeting between the two teams this season.     

Green Bay finished its record-breaking season with 34 wins and will return three starters next season.