UW-Green Bay advances to second round of NCAA Tournament with 59-52 victory over New Mexico
March 18, 2007
(#9) UW-Green Bay 59, (#8) New Mexico 52 - Box Score | QuotesHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Nicole Soulis scored 15 points and ninth-seeded UW-Green Bay opened the second half with a 20-5 spurt to extend its winning streak to 26 games with a 59-52 victory over No. 8 New Mexico on Sunday night in the first round of the Fresno Regional.
The streak is the second longest in the nation, trailing only Middle Tennessee State, which won its 27th consecutive game with a 85-46 victory over Gonzaga on Saturday.
Leading 29-26 at the break, New Mexico (24-9) scored the first basket of the second half. UW-Green Bay then ran off the next 11 points to take a 37-31 lead on Natalie Berglin's layup.
The Phoenix (29-3) extended the lead to 46-34 on Soulis' baseline floater midway through the second half. Soulis and Amanda Popp each scored eight points during the decisive run. Popp finished with 14 points and Berglin added 11.
New Mexico was able to get within 53-46 on Katie Montgomery's 3-pointer with 4:59 left, but could get no closer.
UW-Green Bay will face either (#1) Connecticut or (#16) UMBC on Tuesday night.
Montgomery and Julie Briody scored 11 and Dionne Marsh added 10 for New Mexico.
UW-Green Bay last lost on Nov. 29 to DePaul and went a perfect 16-0 in the Horizon league before running through the conference tournament. The Phoenix also beat Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin - the only non-conference team to win three games against the Big Ten this season.
UWGB didn't make the NCAA tournament last season after losing in the semifinals of the Horizon tournament, snapping a run of four straight NCAA appearances. The Phoenix's last NCAA victory came in 2003 when they beat Washington 78-65.
The Lobos had won four straight and 12 of their last 13 games.
The Phoenix jumped out to a quick 13-4 lead, but the Lobos rallied, going on a 12-3 run to tie the game at 16. UW-Green Bay went cold from the field only hitting three baskets the rest of the half and trailed 29-26 at the break.
