UW-Green Bay Women's Basketball Ranked No. 24 in Associated Press Poll

Feb. 8, 2005

Green Bay, Wis. - Returning to The Associated Press women's basketball poll is just part of the deal for UW-Green Bay. Now that they're in, the Phoenix wants to stay awhile.

While LSU swept all 44 first-place votes from a national media panel and the top six teams remained the same, UW-Green Bay joined at No. 24. The Phoenix (20-2) came in on the strength of a 14-game winning streak, the fourth-longest in the country.

"We're moving up," UW-Green Bay coach Kevin Borseth said. "That's a good thing. That's what we want to do. Certainly it wasn't a goal of ours to get there and be happy and then get bumped out. We want to keep moving up."

The Phoenix did that the last time it was ranked. They joined the poll for the first time in school history on Dec. 16, 2002, and stayed in the rest of the season, rising to as high as 16th. That team finished 28-4, the best ever for the program.

"I don't know if the polls will be quite as kind this time around," Borseth said. "We need to solidify our position a little more. Ultimately we want to get into the national tournament and see what we can do."

LSU (21-1) was No. 1 for the second straight week and eighth time this season. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Duke each received a first-place vote last week, but LSU got them all this time.

UW-Green Bay has stayed healthy after losing its only seniors, Tiffany Mor and Natalie Yudt, to knee injuries a year ago. The Phoenix still won the Horizon League championship for the sixth straight year and made the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in seven years.

Mor was injured early enough to get a medical redshirt and leads this season's team with a 16.4 scoring average.

"She certainly adds a major punch," Borseth said. "And we've seen the emergence of some of our younger players. Our underclassmen have stepped up after getting a year under their belt. They've been able to contribute significantly."

Not to mention giving Green Bay fans something to cheer during a long, cold Wisconsin winter.

Story Provided by Sheila Blackman, UW-Green Bay Sports Information