The Green Bay Phoenix basketball teams were greeted by bigger, stronger, and faster Big 12 teams with humbling losses in their season openers on Monday.
The Phoenix women were outscored 28-7 in the first quarter and only just five points in the second quarter en route to a 92-45 loss to 13th-ranked Kansas State on the road. Natalie McNeal was the lone Phoenix player to register double-figures in the loss, scoring 14 points. Callie Genke added eight points, while Maddy Schreiber and Jenna Guyer each scored seven.
The Phoenix men were within one at the break, but they outscored 50-38 in the second half and lost 89-76. The Phoenix kept pace thanks to 14 three-pointers but were outrebounded 43-25 and posted 19 turnovers in the loss. Anthony Roy followed up his strong exhibition performance with 27 points, while Marcus Hall posted 21 points.
Both teams will be home this weekend with the Phoenix men playing Friday night against St. Thomas and the women battling Northern Iowa Saturday afternoon.
