ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland women's basketball team celebrates diversity with LGBTQIA + Pride Night against Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. presented by United Shore. Special rainbow ribbons will be available to fans in attendance. The Golden Grizzlies conclude their two-game home stand against Green Bay on Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. presented by the Oakland University Credit Union. Fans are encouraged to wear gold. Both games will be broadcast live from the Blacktop at the O'rena on ESPN+.
Scouting the Panthers: Milwaukee is 7-9 overall on the season and sits in sixth at 2-3 in conference play after sweeping a pair of games against Cleveland State and Youngstown State. The Panthers are led by freshman Megan Walstad (11.3 ppg) followed by junior Jamie Reit (10.4 ppg). Last season, Oakland spit both games against Milwaukee and leads the all-time series 11-7.
A look at the Phoenix: Green Bay is 9-7 sitting in second place at 4-1 in conference play after winning three straight games over NKU, CSU and YSU. The Phoenix are led by redshirt senior Jen Wellnitz (11.9 ppg) and junior Frankie Wurtz (11.9 ppg). Last season, Green Bay swept the season series against Oakland and leads the all-time series 8-4.
History Against Green Bay: Oakland and Green Bay have split four of the last eight meetings between the two schools. During the 2016-17 season,
Sha'Keya Graves stole the inbounds pass and rumbled coast-to-coast converting the game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds and completed the 3-point play from the free throw line to secure Oakland's 74-71 upset win on the Blacktop at the O'rena (2/2/17). The win marked Oakland's first home win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 21 South Dakota State (1/5/09). The win also snapped the Phoenix 11-game win streak and marked the second consecutive year the Golden Grizzlies defeated Green Bay while being nationally ranked.
During the 2015-16 campaign, Oakland's 58-56 upset win at No. 22 Green Bay (1/28/16) was the program's first road win over a ranked opponent in the Division I era. The win also snapped Green Bay's league-best 14-game win streak and 16-game home win streak dating back to when the Golden Grizzlies won on (2/4/15) and marked the first time the Phoenix have lost to the same team at home in back-to-back seasons under head coach Kevin Borseth. The Golden Grizzlies completed the season sweep with a 77-69 win (3/5/16) becoming just the second team to sweep the season series over the Phoenix in league play since YSU in 2013-14.
Notes:
Last time out: Kahlaijah Dean scored 13 points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals while
Taylor Jones also added 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting as Oakland fell at IUPUI, 82-53, last Sunday (1/13).
Return to Sender: Oakland ranks second in the league in block shots (73) and blocked shots per game (4.60) which rank 44th and 45th respectively in the nation. Individually,
Mercy Agwaniru (1.3) leads the team and is tied for third in the league while
Kayla Luchenbach (0.7) and
Chloe Guingrich (0.7) are tied at 10th.
Get That Outta Here: Agwaniru posted a career-high five blocks at UIC (1/11) and has four blocks twice this season at Illinois State (11/29) and against Cleveland State (12/28).
Grab and Go: The Golden Grizzlies lead the league in turnovers forced (17.94) and rank second in steals per game (8.70) with
Taylor Jones ranked sixth individually (1.8) followed by
Kahlaijah Dean in fifth (1.7).
Dropping Dimes: Oakland is fourth in the league in assists (13.40) while Jones ranks second individually (4.2) followed by
Brianna Breedy who is tied for eighth (2.9).
Pass/Protect the Rock: Breedy ranks second in conference in assist/turnover ratio (2.4) while the team is sixth in assist/turnover ratio (0.8) and fourth in turnover margin (+.10).
Charity Stripe Production: The Golden Grizzlies rank fifth in free throw percentage (68.0) and are making the most of their trips to the line having shot over 70 percent in five games and over 80 percent once so far this season.
#WEARtheBEAR
