Undermanned Valparaiso University was no match for the Horizon League’s top women’s basketball team.
The Crusaders lost senior Sharon Karungi with a broken nose in the first half Thursday night, forcing other players to log more minutes and play out of position against Green Bay. It worked to the Phoenix’ advantage in an 87-45 win at the Kress Center.
Green Bay (21-4, 11-1) has won 10 or more games every year since it entered the league in 1994-95 and are two victories away from securing another regular-season conference title.
The win also gave coach Kevin Borseth his 600th career victory and his 18th straight against the Crusaders (6-18, 2-9).
The loss was disappointing for VU coach Tracey Dorow, who had coached her team to two conference wins in their last three outings.
“(Green Bay) played a lot of confidence and just fed off each other,” she said. “They hit 50 percent of their 3’s and were very aggressive.
“We just have to do a better job taking care of the basketball. And we have to shoot better. We shot 16 percent in the first half.”
Jasmyn Walker, who was named the league’s Freshman of the Week for the third time this season, led the Crusaders with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Anne Hamilton also stepped up for VU playing out of position with Karungi and freshman Haylee Thompson still limited to minutes because of her injury a month ago.
“Jas and Anne played a lot of post minutes for us,” Dorow said. “They kept battling out there; I was proud of the way Jas kept going at it out there. She struggled from the free throw line but she kept getting there. Lexi Miller also played hard; she got a lot of shots off and scored double digits. She missed a lot of shots but she never quit.”
Green Bay’s league-leading defense simply shut down the Crusaders.
“Typically they don’t allow you to get to the paint,” Dorow said of the Phoenix allowing just 52 points in league play. “They get their hands on a lot of balls and they talk a lot; you have to really be strong and draw some fouls against them.”
VU shot 42 percent in the second half.
Ryan Haskell is a freelance writer.