The Oakland University women’s basketball team experienced both sides of the spectrum during their Horizon League faceoffs at the OU Credit Union O’Rena, where they fell to Green Bay 78-63 on Thursday, Jan. 8, before bouncing back with a decisive 66-45 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday, Jan. 10, to earn their first conference win on the blacktop this season.
The Grizzlies’ weekend started with a challenging faceoff with Green Bay, a perpetual conference contender that capitalizes on its size and efficiency in the paint. Despite a strong defensive showing from the Golden Grizzlies, Green Bay’s interior scoring and early momentum proved to be too much to overcome.
Oakland opened the contest with a balanced offensive approach, as Layla Gold tied the score at 2 just over two minutes into the game. The Golden Grizzlies remained competitive early with Jasmine Dupree-Hebert knocking down a 3-point shot at the 5:13 mark to cut the deficit to one.
Green Bay quickly responded to take back control by going on an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter. A buzzer-beater 3-point shot topped the run and sent Green Bay into the second quarter with a commanding 21-9 lead.
Oakland struggled offensively in the opening period but responded in the second quarter with intensified defensive pressure and improved ball movement. The Golden Grizzlies forced several turnovers and began converting them into points, changing the energy inside the O’Rena.
Mackenzie Luehring sparked a run with a layup off a steal at the 6:21 mark, erupting Oakland’s transition offense. Angie Smith followed with an and-one conversion, and Lianna Baxter connected from beyond the arc as part of the 6-0 run that cut the Phoenix lead to 34-23 with just over three minutes left in the first half.
The Grizzlies closed out the second quarter with strong defense, holding Green Bay without a field goal for the final three minutes. Oakland outscored the Phoenix 18-17 in the period and entered halftime trailing 38-27. Oakland forced six turnovers in the first half and recorded five steals, turning those defensive stops into 12 points.
Oakland’s momentum gained before the break proved difficult to maintain after halftime. Green Bay opened the third quarter with efficient shooting, going 7-for-10 from the field in the frame. Layla Gold briefly cut into the deficit with a fast-break 3-point shot.
Sereniti Roberts-Adams and Layla Gold contributed in the paint for Oakland, but Green Bay’s consistent scoring pushed the advantage to 59-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies showed resilience in the fourth quarter, delivering their strongest offensive performance of the night. Lianna Baxter hit a 3-pointer at the 7:11 mark and scored five of Oakland’s first eight points of the quarter. Luehring added an and-one layup as the Golden Grizzlies knocked down six consecutive field goals and went on a 6-0 run.
Despite finding their momentum and outscoring Green Bay 23-19 in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies were unable to overcome the early deficit and fell 78-63.
Angie Smith led with 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting while also adding five assists and two steals. Lianna Baxter finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and three 3-pointers. Makenzie Luehring added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Jazmine Dupree-Hebert contributed seven points and three steals.
Following the loss, Oakland quickly shifted their focus to Milwaukee and delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Saturday, Jan. 10.
From the opening tip, the Golden Grizzlies set the tone with energy, physicality and efficient shooting. Oakland drained three consecutive 3-pointers to open the game — two from Filippa Goula and one from Makenzie Luehring — immediately putting Milwaukee on its heels.
Oakland’s defense matched its offensive intensity in the first quarter, forcing five turnovers and collecting seven offensive rebounds to maintain control of the tempo.
Despite Milwaukee finding a brief push, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Grace Lomen to cap a 12-2 run, Oakland responded emphatically.
A 9-0 run closed the first quarter, with Layla Gold scoring on a layup, Makenzie Luehring adding a jumper and Filippa Goula sinking a floater with eight seconds remaining to give Oakland a 20-12 lead.
The Golden Grizzlies continued to dominate in the second quarter, opening the period with a 23-13 lead and maintaining pressure on both ends of the floor. Oakland started the quarter shooting 4-for-6 while holding Milwaukee to just one field goal in its first seven attempts.
Oakland’s defense set the stage for a 16-3 run midway through the second quarter. Filippa Goula sparked the surge with a fast-break 3-pointer at the 8:42 mark, assisted by Makenzie Luehring. Oakland attacked the paint consistently, with Luehring converting a key layup at 6:59 to extend the lead.
Milwaukee managed just six points in the second quarter and two made field goals as Oakland closed the half with a near 20-point upper hand, leading 36-18. The Golden Grizzlies held the Panthers to 7-for-25 shooting in the first half and dominated the boards 23-13.
Oakland came out of halftime showing no sign of slowing down. Lianna Baxter opened the second half with a 3-pointer off an assist from Angie Smith, taking the lead to 39-20. Makenzie Luehring and Sereniti Roberts-Adams continued to score inside, while Filippa Goula added a pair of free throws to stretch the lead.
An 8-0 run later in the third quarter, capped by a Jazmine Dupree-Hebert 3-pointer, gave Oakland its largest lead of the game at 52-26. The Golden Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter leading 52-27 and firmly in control.
Milwaukee outscored Oakland 18-14 in the final quarter, but the outcome was never in doubt as Oakland secured the 66-45 victory.
Makenzie Luehring led the Golden Grizzlies with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Filippa Goula matched her with a career-high 17 points, converting all six of her free throws and knocking down three 3-pointers. Layla Gold added eight points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Jazmine Dupree-Hebert finished with six points and two 3-pointers.
With the split on the blacktop, Oakland showed both its defensive potential and offensive depth as conference play continues, using the dominant win over Milwaukee as momentum moving forward.
The Grizzlies will go on the road to take on Detroit Mercy on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 1 p.m. in Calihan Hall.