DETROIT (1/16/2019) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball squad welcomes Horizon League foe Green Bay for a 7 p.m. contest Friday night from Calihan Hall. It's the first meeting this season between the two teams.
Detroit Mercy is coming off a Horizon League road victory over UIC on Sunday, holding the Flames to 36 points in a 42-36 victory in Chicago. Junior
Zoey Oatis recorded her second career double-double with 16 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and a career-best six steals.
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Quick Hits
• In a 42-36 Horizon League win on Sunday, the Titans held the Flames to 36 points, the lowest total for a Division I opponent in a game since Detroit Mercy allowed 34 to Loyola in a 49-34 victory on Feb. 12, 2005.
• Junior
Zoey Oatis tallied her second career double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds and six steals. Her six steals were the most for a Titan player since Lauren Allen had six thefts against Green Bay on Dec. 31, 2010. Oatis ranks No. 100 in the NCAA in steals per game (2.2) and 84th in the country in total steals (35).
• Senior guard
Brittney Jackson became the 16th player in school history to make 100 career 3-pointers, sinking a clutch trey to help seal the victory over UIC on Sunday.
• Senior guard
Lola Ristovski -- making her first start of the season -- went for season-highs in several statistical categories with nine points, five assists and four steals.
Last Time Out
Detroit Mercy picked up its first Horizon League victory of the season, holding UIC to 36 points in a 42-36 road win over the Flames. It was the lowest total of points allowed to a Division I opponent since Detroit Mercy gave up just 34 points in a 49-34 win over Loyola on Feb. 12, 2005.
Zoey Oatis led the way with her second career double-double of 16 points, 13 rebounds and six steals.
The Titans took the lead early in the third quarter and never trailed again. UIC tied the game up 32-32 in the fourth quarter, but
Ashley Miller and
Paige Bellman followed with buckets and senior guard
Brittney Jackson his a clutch 3-pointer with 2 minutes left to help seal the victory. Jackson's 3-pointer was her 100th career.
Senior guard
Lola Ristovski, who had two steals late and also knocked down two free throws in the final seconds, had season-bests with nine points, five assists and four steals. Bellman added nine points. As a team, Detroit Mercy pulled down 41 rebounds, 18 offensive and notched 14 steals (10 between Oatis and Ristovski).
Titan Thievery
The Titans have 114 steals in the past 11 games and 143 total on the season, ranking third in the Horizon League in steals per game (8.9). The Titans tallied a season-high 16 against Omaha at home on Nov. 29. Detroit Mercy has tallied eight games of 10 or more steals this season:
   16 -- vs. Omaha (Nov. 29, 2018)
   14 -- at UIC (Jan. 13, 2019)
   12 -- vs. Western Michigan (Dec. 9, 2018)
   12 -- vs. Youngstown State (Dec. 28, 2018)
   11 -- vs. Cleveland State (Dec. 30, 2018)
   11 -- at Loyola (Nov. 12, 2018)
   10 -- at Manhattan (Nov. 24, 2018)
   10 -- at Bowling Green (Dec. 17, 2018)
Detroit Mercy has also added two games of nine steals and has 10 games of nine or more steals.
Zoey Oatis (third, 2.2 spg) and
Paige Bellman (ninth, 1.5 spg) each rank in the top-10 in the HL in steals per game -- Oatis has three games of five or more steals. Seven players overall have 10 or more steals this season -- Oatis (35), Bellman (24), DiMilia (17), Bicknell (13), Jackson (12), Miller (11) and Ristovski (11).
Perimeter "D"
The Titans have limited opponents in 3-point shooting all season and lead the Horizon League, while ranking 38th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal defense, allowing a 27.1-percent clip shooting from the outside. Detroit Mercy opponents have sank just 90-of-332 shots from beyond the arc on the season.
The mark is currently also No. 1 in school history since 3-pointers became a stat prior to the 1986-87 season. A look at the top 3-point FG% defense marks in school history (two of the top three have come under head coach
Bernard Scott):
   27.1% (90-of-332) -- 2018-19 (thru 16 games)
   28.0% (63-of-225) -- 1990-91
   28.1% (182-of-647) -- 2016-17
   29.3% (205-of-700) -- 2014-15
Scouting Green Bay
Green Bay is 4-1 in Horizon League play and 9-6 overall on the season and has won three-straight in contests over Youngstown State, Cleveland State and on the road at Northern Kentucky. The Phoenix are 3-5 away from the Kress Events Center.
Frankie Wurtz leads the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game, while Jen Wellnitz and Laken James also average better than 9.0 points per game. Wellnitz leads the team in assists (48) and leads the Horizon League in steals (40) and steals per game (2.7).
Madison Wolf leads the squad in rebounding at 7.5 caroms per game and has a team-high 14 blocks. As a team, Green Bay leads the HL in field-goal percentage (41.7), ranking second in scoring defense (56.4 ppg).
All-Time Series
The Titans are 8-49 all-time against longtime league foe Green Bay in the series the began in 1995. Detroit Mercy last defeated the Phoenix on Feb. 4, 2017 from Calihan Hall by a 76-72 margin.
Green Bay has won the past three contests, including last season's game at home. Detroit Mercy is 6-18 all-time in home contests against the Phoenix. Under head coach
Bernard Scott, Detroit Mercy is 1-6 vs. Green Bay.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy returns to the hardwood on Sunday, hosting the other Horizon League team from Wisconsin, Milwaukee for a 1 p.m. ET game from Calihan Hall. Admission into the contest is just $1 on Dollar Sunday with hot dogs and fountain pops also just $1 each.
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