ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies look to extend their winning streak this week as they travel to Wisconsin for a challenging road test at Green Bay and Milwaukee.

Oakland has shown growth as conference play has progressed, winning its last two games by double digits with victories over Milwaukee (Jan. 10) and Detroit Mercy (Jan. 18). The Golden Grizzlies continue to emphasize defensive pressure and rebounding, areas that have kept them within striking distance late in games, and are now beginning to close those games out successfully.

Oakland has shut down opponents from beyond the arc in its last two games, holding them to a combined 8-for-36 (.222) shooting from three. The Golden Grizzlies have also forced a combined 28 turnovers while tallying eight blocks and nine steals during that span, along with a +21 rebounding margin, taking their defense to a new level.

The Golden Grizzlies have leaned on a committee approach, with multiple players capable of reaching double figures on any given night. Angie Smith (10.3 ppg) and Makenzie Luehring (10.7 ppg) have shouldered much of the scoring load in the absence of Cali Denson, while Lianna Baxter and Layla Gold have also provided key offensive contributions in big moments.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22 @ GREEN BAY | 7 PM ET | ESPN+

The Golden Grizzlies face off with the Phoenix (15-5, 10-0 HL) for the second time this month. Green Bay left Rochester with a 78-63 win on Jan. 8, in a game where a slow start from the field left Oakland playing catch-up, despite outscoring the Phoenix in the second and fourth quarters. Since that win, Green Bay has rattled off three consecutive victories, extending its overall winning streak to seven games while maintaining an unblemished Horizon League record.

After scoring 42 points in the paint in the previous meeting, the Phoenix will look to continue attacking the post. Oakland's top-three shot-blocking defense will aim to slow Green Bay's interior presence, beginning with limiting the conference's third-leading scorer, Jenna Guyer (14.9 ppg).

The Golden Grizzlies' bench outperformed Green Bay's in the last meeting, outscoring the Phoenix reserves 15 to 8. That depth could be a key factor in Oakland's success, with emerging performances from Jazzy Dupree-Hebert and Sereniti Roberts-Adams becoming regular contributions.

This will mark Oakland's first trip to the Kress Center since the 2024–25 Horizon League Championship Quarterfinals, where the Golden Grizzlies fell to the host Phoenix. Oakland is searching for its first win in Green Bay in nearly ten years, with its last road victory there coming in 2016.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24 @ MILWAUKEE | 1 PM ET | ESPN+

Milwaukee (6-14, 2-7 HL) enters the week on a three-game losing streak, which was kick-started by a 66-45 loss to Oakland on Jan. 10. The Golden Grizzlies controlled the physicality in that matchup, forcing 17 turnovers and scoring 15 points off those miscues. Milwaukee also struggled to shoot against Oakland's defensive pressure, finishing 16-for-54 from the field and 5-for-21 from three.

Oakland also limited Milwaukee's leading scorer and rebounder, Jorey Buwalda, to just four points and four rebounds on 0-for-8 shooting, effectively cutting off the Panthers' primary offensive option.

Following a 76-61 loss to Green Bay on Jan. 17, Milwaukee has dropped each of its last three games by double-digit margins, scoring fewer than 61 points in all three contests. The skid has pushed the Panthers to the bottom of the Horizon League's offensive rankings, as they rank last in scoring (59.8 ppg) and second-to-last in shooting efficiency (.387). The Golden Grizzlies rank among the league's top six most efficient offenses, shooting .392 from the field.

Oakland has won four of the last five meetings against Milwaukee and has not lost at the Klotsche Center in over three years, earning road victories in each of the past two seasons.
A successful weekend could propel Oakland up the conference standings. Currently sitting seventh, the Golden Grizzlies are just two games back of fourth place as the final month of the regular season approaches.