#HLWBB Notebook – Postseason Preview

March 19

Kobe Mosley

#HLWBB Notebook – Postseason Preview

INDIANAPOLIS (March 19, 2025) – #HLWBB champion Green Bay will make its way to College Park, Maryland, to face No. 5 seed Alabama in the NCAA Tournament while Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State await their matchups in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

BARBASOL #HLWBB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Tuesday, March 4 – First Round
- No. 6 Detroit Mercy def. No. 11 Milwaukee, 73-62
- No. 10 Oakland def. No. 7 IU Indianapolis, 62-56
- No. 8 Wright State def. No. 9 Youngstown State, 73-58
Thursday, March 6 - Quarterfinals
- No. 3 Cleveland State def. No. 6 Detroit Mercy, 92-61
- No. 4 RMU def. No. 5 Northern Kentucky, 70-57
- No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne def. No. 8 Wright State, 60-54
- No. 1 Green Bay def. No. 10 Oakland, 84-55
Monday, March 10 – Semifinals
- No. 1 Green Bay def. No. 4 RMU, 67-54
- No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne def. No. 3 Cleveland State, 83-65
Tuesday, March 11 – Championship
- No. 1 Green Bay def. No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne, 76-63

#HLWBB DIG DEEPER
Green Bay

The Phoenix will represent the League in the NCAA Tournament for the 18^th time in program history.
In her first season, Green Bay alum and head coach Kayla Karius led the Phoenix to a 29-5 record which included the program’s 23^rd regular-season title.
Green Bay’s 22-game win streak is tied for the third-longest streak in Division I.
Natalie McNeal was named the Key4Women MVP of the Barbasol Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship after she averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds across two games. McNeal is also the team’s leading scorer for the season with 14.9 points a game.
Four Phoenix earned All-League honors this season, beginning with McNeal and Maddy Schreiber getting tabbed to the All-League First Team. Bailey Butler was named Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Defensive Team alongside teammate Jasmine Kondrakiewicz.

Purdue Fort Wayne

The Mastodons return to the WNIT after making it to the Super 16 round last season.
#HLWBB Coach of the Year Maria Marchesano led Purdue Fort Wayne to a 25-8 record and the program’s first appearance in the Barbasol Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship game. This is also the second-straight 20-win season under Marchesano.
Three Mastodons average double digits in scoring: Lauren Ross (15.5), Sydney Freeman (11.2) and Amellia Bromenschenkel (10.8).
Ross is one of the best shooters in the nation, ranking first in Division I in three-point percentage (47.7%) and free throw percentage (94.4%).
Ross earned Newcomer of the Year and All-League First Team honors. Both Bromenschenkel and Freeman were voted to the All-League Second Team. Jordan Reid won Sixth Player of the Year and Jazzlyn Linbo was selected for the Sportsmanship Award.

Cleveland State

The Vikings reach the WNIT after making the Barbasol #HLWBB semifinals for the sixth consecutive season.
In his seventh season, head coach Chris Kielsmeier led the Vikings to a fourth-consecutive 20-win campaign and enter the postseason with a 24-9 record.
#HLWBB Player of the Year Mickayla Perdue led the team and League in scoring this season with 20.1 points per game. Her 606 total points ranks 11^th nationally and led the League with 16 20-point performances.
Jordana Reisma ranks second in Division I in field goal percentage (67.4%).
Four Vikings were recognized with All-League honors. Perdue was named to the All-League First Team. Reisma made the All-League Second Team and All-Defensive Team. Destiny Leo was selected to the All-Third Team while Sara Guerreiro earned All-League Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors.

#HLWBB ON THE HORIZON

Saturday, March 22 – NCAA
- No. 12 Green Bay vs. No. 5 Alabama, 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Tuesday, March 25 – WNIT
- Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Old Dominion/Navy, 7 p.m. ET
- Cleveland State vs. Colgate/Coppin State, 7 p.m. ET