The Green Bay Phoenix will look for their first win in the WNIT when they welcome Niagara to the Kress Events Center on Thursday.
It marks the third time the program has hosted a WNIT game and the third time will battle the Purple Eagles. The Phoenix hope to win their first WNIT game after qualifying for the consolation tournament in 2001, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2019, and 2022.
The Phoenix qualified as the Horizon League automatic bid after winning the regular season but suffered a cold shooting streak at the wrong time when they lost to Cleveland State 73-61. In their return to the top of the conference, Head coach Kevin Borseth was tabbed Coach of the Year for the ninth time, while Sydney Levy was named All-League First Team, and Bailey Butler was named All-League Second Team and All-Defense.
The Purple Eagles finished third in the MAAC and lost in the semifinals of their conference tournament. They do pride themselves on defense, forcing a nation-high 28.4 turnovers per game.
The two sides have not played each other since the Phoenix won the two games in consecutive years in the late 1980s. The winner of the game will either play Bowling Green or Liberty in the second round of the WNIT, which would take place between March 18th and 21st.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. with the new men's coach, Sundance Wicks, making his first public appearance since being tapped as the program's leader earlier this week.
