Green Bay women's basketball falls to Northern Kentucky for second-straight loss

First time since December 2021 the Phoenix lost back-to-back conference games

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Green Bay women's basketball team suffered its second straight Horizon League loss, falling to Northern Kentucky 77-59 at home. This marks the first time since December 2020 that the Phoenix have dropped back-to-back conference games.

Why it matters

The Phoenix's two-game losing skid comes at a critical point in the season as they look to maintain their position in the Horizon League standings. Head coach Kayla Karius expressed disappointment in the team's defensive effort, which has been a strength for Green Bay in recent years.

The details

Green Bay led 20-11 after the first quarter but was outscored 24-12 in the second period to trail by three at halftime. The Phoenix trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter, and Northern Kentucky's lead grew to as much as 20 points with 7:38 to play. Karius cited the team's inability to play to its defensive standard as a key factor in the loss.

  • The game was played on February 14, 2026.
  • This was Green Bay's second straight loss, the first time that has happened since December 2020.

The players

Kayla Karius

The head coach of the Green Bay women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Bottom line is our defense isn't doing what it should be doing. We gave up 83 [points] on Wednesday in 45 minutes and now we gave up 77 [points]. It's not the defensive standard that we have.”

— Kayla Karius, Head Coach (fox11online.com)

What’s next

The Phoenix will look to snap their losing skid when they host Milwaukee on Feb. 21 with tip-off set for 1 p.m.

The takeaway

Green Bay's two-game losing streak highlights the importance of maintaining their defensive intensity throughout the Horizon League schedule. The team will need to quickly regroup and return to their defensive identity in order to get back on track.