The Horizon League women’s tournament bracket is officially here, with Green Bay once again earning the No. 1 seed. The Phoenix has been beaten three times in the closing weeks of the regular season, making for an enticing challenge for the league’s auto-bid.
Here’s a little bit to know about each team heading into tournament play.
1. Green Bay (17-3, 22-8 overall)
Green Bay won the league by multiple games once again and is the clear favorite to claim the auto-bid. The Phoenix possess a top-five offense and defense in the league, with the league’s two individual leaders in assists per game in Kamy Peppler and Maddie Skorupski, and Jenna Guyer, a top-six individual scorer, as it looks to make its third-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
2. Youngstown State (15-5, 22-8 overall)
Defense wins championships, and the Penguins have a defense that is more than capable of doing so, with a more than satisfactory offense. Each of the league’s two individual leaders in blocks per game–Paulina Hernandez and Sophia Gregory–reside in the Youngstown State frontcourt as the team leads the league in that category and the offense also ranks top-five in the league.
3. Cleveland State (13-7, 23-8 overall)
No team has a better one-two scoring punch than the Vikings, which are led by Izabella Zingaro and Colbi Maples, two of the league’s top-three scorers. On the defensive end, Cleveland State is a top-three unit in the league entering tournament play partially thanks to Jada Leonard, who is leading the league in steals per game.
4. Purdue Fort Wayne (12-8, 18-12 overall)
Alana Nelson ranks top-two in the league in both scoring and threes made per game and Lauren Lee and Jordan Reid rank top-five in assists and steals, respectively. The Mastodons are the top scoring offense in the league entering tournament play and handed top-seed Green Bay one of its three losses this season, making them as dangerous as any group looking to steal the auto-bid.
5. Northern Kentucky (12-8, 15-16 overall)
Despite a loss in the regular-season finale, the Norse have won five of the last seven entering the postseason, including an 18-point win at Green Bay on Feb. 14. Northern Kentucky is a top-five team in the league in offense, rebounding and blocked shots, but ninth in scoring defense. If it can be sound defensively, the tools are there elsewhere to make a run.
6. Robert Morris (11-9, 18-11 overall)
A physical effort will be required for any team to beat Robert Morris in a tournament format, as the Colonials lead the league in rebounding, are second in blocks and fourth in scoring defense. With just the eighth-ranked offense in the league, for a Cinderella run to be possible, Robert Morris will need unexpected heroics on that end, but that’s what March is for.
7. IU Indianapolis (9-11, 13-16 overall)
The Jaguars are right in the middle of the pack on both ends of the floor, ranking sixth in the league in both scoring offense and defense. About 48% of the teams field goals came off assists this season, providing a balance that could prove beneficial in a tournament format, as did playing two Big Ten teams in the nonconference, with each game decided by single digits.
8. Oakland (7-13, 10-20 overall)
Led by Makenzie Luehring, who is top-five leaguewide in points and assists, Cali Denson, who leads the league in 3-pointers per game and Layla Gold, who is third in blocks, the Golden Grizzlies could give higher seeds some problems. The team is also top-five in rebounds and blocks, meaning a strong effort on the inside will be necessary to eliminate Oakland.
9. Wright State (6-14, 10-21 overall)
For Wright State this season, when it rains it pours. The Raiders enter tournament play on a three-game losing streak, with additional five and seven-game skids having happened throughout the year. Breezie Williams, who is top-five in steals per game in the league, forcing turnovers and generating easy buckets could be the key to finding a stride on that end and snapping the losing streak.
10. Milwaukee (4-16, 8-23 overall)
The final stretch of the regular season was unkind to the Panthers, who are entering the tournament as losers of seven-consecutive games. Jorey Buwalda has provided some consistency as a stable presence up front, averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds, good for second in the league. Milwaukee will host the play-in game and look to create some positive energy at home.
11. Detroit Mercy (4-16, 6-23 overall)
Jasmine Edwards has averaged 11 points and 8.1 rebounds, which ranks third in the league, and Makayla Jackson added 11.1 points and 2.1 steals, ranking third in the league. The season for the Titans has been otherwise disappointing, but playing with nothing to lose has turned out alright for teams on occasion and Detroit Mercy will have the opportunity to do so in the play-in game.
