GLO hit 21 3-pointers, vanquish Breeze

Jessica Lindstrom notched her second double-double of the year.

Mehryn Kraker had a game-high 22 points and six assists to lead the undefeated Wisconsin GLO to a 121-53 win over the Chicago Breeze on Sunday, June 23 at Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The GLO (9-0) raced out to a 42-8 lead after one quarter, owned a 69-22 advantage at halftime and led by as many as 73 points during the final period. Wisconsin’s 42-point quarter on 15-for-20 shooting from the floor set a new team record and its 69 points in the first 20 minutes is the highest-scoring half of its inaugural season.

Angela Rodriguez had a season-high 11 points.

Wisconsin, averaging 100.8 points per contest on the year, finished Sunday’s game 21 of 45 from beyond the arc as eight different GLO players connected from 3-point range. The GLO, who registered a franchise-record 35 assists on 43 made field goals, held a 59-26 rebounding advantage.

The GLO shot 55.8 percent from the floor overall and limited the Breeze to a .310 field goal percentage. Wisconsin, which is winning by an average of 47.7 points per game on the year, has yet to allow an opponent to shoot better than 37 percent this season.

GLO teammates mob Mehryn Kraker after her 70-foot shot at the buzzer.

Kraker went 8-for-10 from the field and drained six 3-pointers on seven attempts, including a 70-foot heave off the backboard at the second-quarter buzzer.

The GLO’s Jessica Lindstrom added 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the floor and led all players with 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the year.

Jolene Anderson scored 11 points in 12 minutes against the Breeze.

Wisconsin had six players score in double figures, including Gabbi Ortiz with 15 points, Julie Wojta with 14, and Jolene Anderson and Angela Rodriguez with 11 apiece. Wojta contributed seven rebounds and five assists while Rodriguez collected a team-leading three steals.

All 12 GLO players in uniform scored at least three points as Taylor Wurtz chipped in seven, and Alex Cohen and Allie LeClaire both had six. Cohen also recorded a season-high four blocks.

Wisconsin opened the game with a 7-0 lead before Chicago cut its deficit to 10-6 at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter. However, the GLO responded with 22 unanswered points during a span of more than five minutes to extend their lead to 32-6. Lindstrom accounted for eight points during the GLO’s 22-0 run that featured eight different scorers.

Gabbi Ortiz made four of the GLO’s team-record 21 3-pointers.

The GLO later put together a sting of 13 consecutive points, including five from Anderson, to finish the final seven minutes of the opening period on a 35-2 run.

Leading 60-22 late in the second quarter, Wisconsin closed out the half with three straight 3-pointers, including Kraker’s heave at the buzzer from just beyond the free throw line in the backcourt.

The GLO lead reached 60 points at 94-34 on a layup by Lindstrom with more than nine minutes to play and 70 points at 113-43 following a 3-pointer from Ortiz with 3:53 to go. Wisconsin then built its largest cushion of 73 points at 121-48 on Gaby Bronson’s layup with 88 seconds left.

Shante Glenn led Chicago with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The GLO starting lineup featured four UW-Green Bay alumnae.

The GLO, who downed the Breeze (2-2) by a 97-26 score June 8 in Oshkosh, are responsible for both of Chicago’s losses on the year.

Wisconsin hits the road for a non-league game at Global Women’s Basketball Association rival St. Louis Surge on Sunday, June 30. The GLO won their two prior GWBA meetings with the Surge by scores of 92-66 in Oshkosh and 107-70 in St. Louis.

The GLO’s final home game of the regular season is Saturday, July 13 against the three-time defending GWBA champion Flint Monarchs. Wisconsin would clinch the outright GWBA regular season title with a win over Flint on July 13.