GB Women Face "Tall Task" Sunday in NCAA Opener vs. LSU

GB also has the tough task of defending a team that features a front line of three players standing 6'4" or 6'5," including the SEC's second leading scorer Theresa Plaisance (17.4 ppg).

So how will they defend that?

"We have a choice," said Head Coach Kevin Borseth.   "We can either smoke and mirrors and try and make some things happen, or go down there and do what we do and do what we do best.  That's probably what our plan is going to be with obviously some emphasis on certain players.  I don't think it'd be a secret to say Plaisance would be a player you have to pay attention to."

The GB roster does not feature a player taller than 6'3" senior forward Stephanie Sension.  It will be a team effort to limit the post production of the Tigers, but the Phoenix may be up to the task because they are second in the nation in opponents scoring average (48.1 ppg).

"We are just going to continue to do what we do," said Sension.  "I think playing in front of the post is what we are very good at and we have been successful that way."

"I like challenges," adds 6'2" junior forward Breannah Ranger.  "We don't have a 6-5 girl in conference.  We have a lot of posts that are very physical.   We went in games where the games were very physical, so I think we're very prepared."

Louisiana State and Green Bay had two mutual opponents this year, Missouri and Wichita State. The Phoenix won each contest by more than 20 points.  The Tigers also beat both but only by single digits. Head Coach Kevin Borseth says that doesn't mean a whole lot at this point.

"Games come down to matchups," says Borseth.  "It's kind of funny you think that because you beat one team and the other team lost to them, that you should beat them but it doesn't go that way.  A lot of those things come down to matchups."

What Green Bay may lack in size down low, they make up for in all-around experience.  This is senior class has never lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, no matter the circumstances.

"This is what it's all about," said senior forward Sarah Eichler.  "These are the games we play for.  This is why it's so fun.  That experience itself, is addicting."

"It pushes you to your core," adds senior guard Adrian Ritchie.  "You just give everything to this program, to these girls next to you.  When you're on that stage (the NCAA Tournament) and someone is threatening to take that away from you, you're going to fight until the very end.  We have a lot of heart and I know we will see that on Sunday."

And heart, of course is one thing that cannot be measured.