2025 Barbasol Horizon League Men and Women’s Basketball Championships
Women’s Championship
Green Bay 76 Purdue Fort Wayne 63
story by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA
photos by: Greg Flint, Excel H Sports
Phoenix Defense Stands Up in 3rd Quarter to Claim Tournament
Green Bay team – with trophy
On a pleasant spring day in Indianapolis, Indiana both the Phoenix of Green Bay and the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne came out of the tunnels with one thing on their collective minds, winning the Barbasol Horizon League Championship and stamping their ticket to the NCAA Women’s National Championship journey.
And both teams were up to the task, Bailey Butler opens up the scoring for Green Bay with a three-pointer then Sydney Freeman counters with a two for PFW to start the game
Barbasol Horizon League Trophy
The game was a spectators delight as both teams shot lights out on their way to the first quarter stop with Green Bay holding a three-point margin of 22 to 19.
Natalie McNeal of Green Bay – shooting a jumper
In the first quarter Natalie McNeal led the way for the Phoenix with eight followed by Bailey Butler with five.
Sydney Freeman of Purdue-FW – breakaway lay-up
And PFW countered with Sydney Freeman with five followed by Jordan Reid with four.
Jordan Reid of Purdue-FW – scooping a lay-up against Maddy Schreiber of Green Bay
The takeaway from the first quarter was, there were No, Zero turnovers.
The second quarter started off with both teams continuing their torrid shooting with PFW’s Sydney Freeman giving the Mastodons their first lead 28 to 25 but Jasmine Kondrakiewicz’s old fashioned basket and one. tied the game at 28. At the half of the Barbasol Horizon League Championship is tied at 40 with Green Bay and Purdue Fort Wayne.
Amellia Bromenschenkel of Purdue-FW – shooting a lay-up
(Editor’s note) Audra Emmerson played in our 2021 Indiana Basketball All Star Classic.
Callie Genke of Green Bay – shooting a jumper
At the half Green Bay was led by Natalie McNeal’s 14 followed by Jasmine Kondrakiewicz with six along with Callie Genke’s six. Bailey Butler and Maddy Schrieber have five apiece, while PFW was led by Sydney Freeman’s 13 followed by Jordan Reid’s six and Audra Emmerson’s six.
Jordan Reid of Purdue-FW – scooping a lay-up against Maddy Schreiber of Green Bay
In the third quarter both teams are still shooting 50% percent from the floor when the Mastodons shooting fell off and Green Bay seized a 60 Purdue Fort Wayne 53 lead.
The main contributor to that margin was Green Bay’s Jenna Guyer scoring eight straight points to open up the margin.
Taeya Steinauer of Purdue-FW – driving toward Jenna Guyer of Green Bay
At the quarter break Natalie McNeal leads Green Bay with 18 followed by Callie Genke’s 10 and Maddy Schreiber with nine.
PFW is led by Sydney Freeman’s 13, Jordan Reid 12 and Jazzlyn Linbo with nine.
Green Bay is shooting 53.5% percent from the floor while PFW has cooled to 47.7% percent.
The final quarter belong to Green Bay as they continued to open up their lead to the final thirteen-point margin of 76 to 63.
Natalie McNeal was brilliant today as she scored 26 points on combination of drives to the basket and timely shooting from the outside for Green Bay.
Jasmine Kondrakiewicz added ten, Callie Genke also added ten while Bailey Butler and Maddy Schreiber added nine each and Jenna Guyer’s eight strategic points.
Jasmine Kondrakiewicz of Green Bay – shooting over Jazzlyn Linbo of Purdue-FW
Purdue Fort Wayne was led by Sydney Freeman’s 18 followed by Jordan Reid with 12 and Jazzlyn Linbo’s 11.
Green Bay Phoenix proved they are at least an eleven seed in the NCAA tourney while Purdue Fort Wayne would be an excellent choice for the WBIT tournament.
Our Excel H Sports Barbasol Horizon League All-Tournament Team
Robert Morris In the Big Dance After Winning the Horizon League Tournament
By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports
Robert Morris team with title banner
The Robert Morris Colonials are NCAA Tournament bound after beating the Youngstown State Penguins in the Barbasol Horzion League Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis Tuesday Night. Robert Morris won the Regular Season and Postseason in the Horzion League for the first time since joining the league in 2020. Robert Morris is 26-8 on the season and coached by Andrew Toole in his 15th season. Robert Morris won the Northeast Conference Tournament in 2020, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015 and 9th overall.
Josh Omojafo of Robert Morris – shooting a lay-up
Josh Omojafo led the Colonials with 24 points and 13 Rebounds as the starting five all scored in double figures and all seven players scored. Kam Woods scored 17 points and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Alvaro Folguerias added 14 points, Armon Dickerson 13 points and D.J. Smith 11 points. Ryan Prather Jr scored 6 points and Ismael Pleat added 4 points off the bench. Robert Morris went 29-62 from the field for 46%, 11-22 from three-point range for 50% and 20-28 from the free throw line for 71%. Robert Morris pulled down 43 rebounds, dished out 23 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals and committed 8 turnovers.
Kam Woods of Robert Morris – passing out of the paint
Alvaro Folgueiras of Robert Morris – shooting a runner while fending off Gabe Dynes of Youngstown State
Youngstown State who fell to 21-13 on the season was looking for its first ever Division 1 NCAA Tournament appearance and made nine in Division II with the last one coming in 1977. Juwan Maxey led the Penguins with 23 points and Nico Galette added 21 points. 7-3 Sophomore Gabe Dynes scored 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds off the bench. All seven players scored for Youngstown State. Cris Carroll had 8 points; Jason Nelson scored 7 points off the bench, Seim Uijtendaal scored 5 points and Ty Harper added 3 points.
Jason Nelson of Youngstown State – shooting a short jumper
Juwan Maxey of Youngstown State – shooting over Alvaro Folgueiras of Robert Morris
Youngstown State pulled down 36 rebounds, dished out 17 assists, 7 blocks, 5 steals and committed 6 turnovers. The Penguins went 27-63 from the field for 43%, 11-29 from three-point range for 38% and 13-17 from the free throw line for 76%. Robert Morris jumped out to 11-0 lead as Seim Uijtendaal got Youngstown State on the board with 17:04 left in the first half. The Colonials led 34-29 at halftime and the second half was high scoring affair with Robert Morris outscoring Youngstown State 55-49. This was the sixth year in a row that the semifinals and championship game have been played at the Corteva Coliseum.
Gabe Dynes of Youngstown State – grabbing a rebound
Our Excel H Sports Barbasol Horizon League All-Tournament Team
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