Go Green! Phoenix women are favorites again

The UW-Green Bay women’s basketball team is predicted to defend its Horizon League regular season title for the 11th straight year, according to the League’s preseason poll.

Coach Matt Bollant’s team opened practice earlier this month. The first exhibition game is Saturday, Nov. 8, at noon vs. Winona State. The regular season begins with a road trip to Florida International and the University of Miami on Nov. 14 and 16.

The Phoenix earned its 10th straight Horizon League title last year with a league-record for conference victories. The Phoenix is led by four returning starters from last year’s 26-6 squad, which posted its ninth straight 20-win season and advanced to postseason play for the 11th consecutive year with its appearance in the WNIT. Seniors Lavesa Glover, Kati Harty, Rachel Porath and Erin Templin are expecting plenty of help from talented newcomers.

On the men’s side, Coach Tod Kowalczyk is shooting for a return to post-season play as the Horizon League poll projects Green Bay near the top with a third-place finish. The Phoenix returns all five starters, 90 percent of its scoring and 85 percent of its rebounding from last year’s team. The Phoenix went 15-15 overall and 9-9 in Horizon League play a year ago. The Phoenix has its first exhibition game on Saturday night, Nov. 1, when it hosts Minnesota-Duluth at the Resch Center.