Golden Grizzlies Gear Up for Pair of Big Home Games Against Phoenix and Panthers

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies look to get back into the win column as they host a pair of home games against Green Bay and Milwaukee this week.

Oakland is currently in sixth place in the Horizon League standings, sitting in a group of five teams that are all within one game of each other in the standings, making the final stretch of the season maybe the most crucial stretch.

THURSDAY, FEB. 12 vs. GREEN BAY | 7 PM | TV20

The Golden Grizzlies face off against the second-place Phoenix, who are riding a blistering 14-game win streak after beating Robert Morris 71-39 on Feb. 8.

Green Bay is the top defense in the conference, holding opponents to just 56.5 points per game.

The Golden Grizzlies are looking to create a repeat of the last time the Phoenix visited Rochester, when in January of 2024 Oakland handed Green Bay their first conference defeat of the season with an 83-81 victory.

When the two teams faced off earlier this season in Green Bay, Dani Grim led the way for the Golden Grizzlies, scoring 15 points. Grim's reliable ball-handling and midrange scoring will be a huge key once again, as Macy Smith is riding a hot streak of games coming in, scoring in double-digits in eight of the last nine games, while Maddy Skorupski looks to bounce back after a pair of rough games.

SATURDAY, FEB. 15 vs. MILWAUKEE | 2 PM | ESPN+

Oakland looks to sweep the Panthers in the series for the first time since the 206-17 season. The Golden Grizzlies look to win their third straight matchup against Milwaukee as well.

The Panthers are currently sitting in last in the Horizon League with a 3-12 conference record. Despite losing two of their last three games coming into the week, they did score a 61-56 win over Youngstown State on Feb. 8.

The Golden Grizzlies and Panthers rank closely in many statistical categories. They are within one point per game of each other, with Oakland averaging 61.3 ppg and Milwaukee scoring 62 ppg. The teams also shoot a nearly identical .390 from the field. Defensively, they come in as the sixth and seventh ranked defenses percentage wise, as Milwaukee's opponents shoot .411, while Oakland's shoot .426.

Kacey Baumhauer leads the Panthers in scoring (13 ppg), while Anna Lutz adds 11.5 ppg as well.

Floor general Kamy Peppler also leads the league in assists per game (4.9). The emphasis on guard play and ball movement will be big in this matchup, as Skorupski and Grim both rank in the top 11 of assists in the league as well.

Both matchups will prove big to set the late season stage for the Horizon League, and the seeding placement for the Golden Grizzlies.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Maddy Skorupski: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#3 Dani Grim: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#12 Macy Smith: G; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Maddy Skorupski
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#3 Dani Grim
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#12 Macy Smith
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#2 Maddy Skorupski

#3 Dani Grim

#12 Macy Smith

Players Mentioned

#2 Maddy Skorupski

#3 Dani Grim

#12 Macy Smith