Phoenix climbs back to No. 23; Motown showdown is Thursday

The UW-Green Bay women’s basketball squad — No. 17 in the AP poll two weeks ago at 16-0, No. 24 last Monday after two straight losses, and headed north again today at No. 23 and 18-2 — turned up its defense late to pull away from Valparaiso 78-54 Saturday afternoon at the Kress Events Center. The Phoenix (7-2 Horizon League) will have a first-place showdown at Detroit at 6 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 4). View the latest AP Top 25.