WNIT

Jessica Lindstrom (21) leads Green Bay’s defense. PHOTO: Courtesy of Green Bay Athletics.

The Green Bay Phoenix used another dominant defensive performance to knock off the Little Rock Trojans 57-31 in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT at the Kress Center.

Superior native Jessica Lindstrom scored 15 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Phoenix. She hit 7-of-8 from the field in 25 minutes.

Mehryn Kraker added 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting as Green Bay (2-0) opened the game with a 20-3 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

The Phoenix advance in the Preseason WNIT to face the winner of Monday nights matchup between number 1/2 Notre Dame and Fordham.

Big Ten Player of the Year Rachel Banham poured in 48 points on Wednesday night, leading the Minnesota Gophers to a 87-80 win over the UW-Milwaukee Panthers in the opening round of the WNIT at Williams Arena.

The Panthers led by one-point at halftime, but Banham went to work in the second half, scoring 35 of her 48 points. Twenty-three of those points came in the third quarter as Banham hit 18 of 33 from the field and nine-of-10 from the free throw line to set a WNIT scoring record. Banham has now scored 40 or more points three times this season for the Gophers (20-11).

Steph Kostowicz scored 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting for the Panthers (19-13).

The Panthers played in a postseason tournament game for the first time in 10 years.