GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a game that featured four lead changes in the first half and went back and forth much of the contest, second-seeded Wright State pulled away from top-seeded Green Bay, 88-69, in the second half to punch its first ticket to the NCAA Tournament
Green Bay (22-9) jumped to a 15-8 lead on a Breannah Ranger layup with 12:44 remaining in first half.
After trading buckets, 2014 Horizon League Player of the Year Kim Demmings hit a contested jumper to cut the lead 19-14. However, Demmings registered her third foul with 8:57 remaining in the first half.
Demmings would sit much of the remainder of the first half along with fellow Horizon League First-Teamer Ivory James, who picked up her third foul with 5:58 in the first half.
Trailing 24-15 with 8:04 remaining, Wright State went on a 10-0 run to take a 25-24 lead on a three-pointer by KC Elkins.
However, Green Bay would regain the lead on layups by Ranger and Mehryn Kraker to extend its lead to three points with 3:19 remaining in the first half.
On the next possession Tay’ler Mingo hit a corner three from the right pocket to tie up the game 28-28.
The first half ended with a bang as Mingo hit a three from the right wing with 28 seconds remaining. That was followed by a three from the left corner by Kraker as time expired. Green Bay took a 42-36 lead into the break.
For the half, Green Bay shot 61% (17-28) from the field, compared to Wright State’s 39% (14-36).
“I couldn’t be more proud of these kids, if we would’ve panicked (in the first half) we would’ve been run out the gym,” Wright State head coach Mike Bradbury said.
Wright State jumped out of the gates in the second half as Demmings scored 11 of the Raiders first 13 second half points, which included three trays, and Wright State led 47-46 with 16:44 remaining.
Demmings scored 16 of the Raiders first 25 second half points, and the Raiders came back to lead the Phoenix 61-55.
“Kim came out and hit some shots, she was real clutch,” Mingo said.
Demmings finished the contest with 26 points, 22 of which came in the second half, on 9-of-13 shooting while Mingo tailed 31 points. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team with Demmings being named MVP of the 2014 Horizon League Championship.
The duo of Demmings and Mingo scored 39 of the Raiders 52 second half points.
For the tournament Mingo scored 81 points, breaking the previous record of 73.
Wright State (26-8) would go on to outscore the Phoenix 14-2 in the final 6:08 to put the game on ice. Green Bay did not score the final 1:59. The Raiders scored 33 points off turnovers compared to 10 by the Phoenix.
For the contest, Kraker led the Phoenix with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Ranger finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Tayler Stanton led Wright State with 15 rebounds, 10 of which came on the offensive end.
In total, Wright State shot 44% (29-66) from the field while Green Bay shot 50% (30-60). However, the Phoenix shot just 3-16 from three while the Raiders finished 11-24.
“We’ve been building to this, our first class is now juniors,” Bradbury said, “This is how we play, we’re first in the country in turnover margin. It’s nothing tricky.”
Green Bay receives the league's automatic bid to the WNIT.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show takes place Monday, March 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The 64-team WNIT field will be announced late Monday evening via www.womensnit.com.
All-Tournament Team:
Kim Demmings, Wright State (MVP)
Tay’ler Mingo, Wright State
Mehryn Kraker, Green Bay
Tesha Buck, Green Bay
Heidi Schlegel, Youngstown State
Tags: Green Bay - Women's Basketball · Wright State - Women's Basketball
