Wisconsin-Green Bay 59, New Mexico 52

3/18/2007 9:18 PM

By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Sports Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -Wisconsin-Green Bay isn't focused on its long winning streak. The Phoenix are just worried about winning the next game.

Nicole Soulis scored 15 points and the ninth-seeded Phoenix opened the second half with a 20-5 run to extend their winning streak to 26 games with a 59-52 victory over No. 8 New Mexico on Sunday night in the first round of the Fresno Regional.

``While we're playing we don't think about it,'' said Amanda Popp, who added 14 points on her 22nd birthday. ``We take it one game at a time trying to get the next one.''

The streak is the second longest in the nation, trailing only Middle Tennessee State, which won its 27th consecutive game with a 85-46 victory over Gonzaga on Saturday.

Leading 29-26 at the break, New Mexico (24-9) scored the first basket of the second half. Wisconsin-Green Bay then ran off the next 11 points to take a 37-31 lead on Natalie Berglin's layup.

``We knew we had to get defensive stops,'' Soulis said. ``We wanted to make sure they didn't pull away and we could stay with them.''

The Phoenix (29-3) extended the lead to 46-34 on Soulis' baseline floater midway through the second half. Soulis and Popp each scored eight points during the decisive run. Berglin finished with 11 points.

``We're extremely thrilled to win,'' coach Kevin Borseth said. ``It was a hard fought game between two good teams.''

New Mexico was able to get within 53-46 on Katie Montgomery's 3-pointer with 4:59 left, but could get no closer.

``Some how early in the second half we didn't play with enough intensity and effort,'' New Mexico coach Dan Flanagan said.

Wisconsin-Green Bay will face top-seed Connecticut on Tuesday night. The Huskies routed UMBC 82-33.

Montgomery and Julie Briody scored 11 and Dionne Marsh added 10 for New Mexico.

``We need to credit their defense, they were outworking us,'' Briody said.

Wisconsin-Green Bay last lost on Nov. 29 to DePaul and went a perfect 16-0 in the Horizon league before running through the conference tournament. The Phoenix also beat Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin - the only non-conference team to win three games against the Big Ten this season.

Wisconsin-Green Bay didn't make the NCAA tournament last season after losing in the semifinals of the Horizon tournament, snapping a run of four straight NCAA appearances. The Phoenix's last NCAA victory came in 2003 when they beat Washington 78-65.

The Lobos had won four straight and 12 of their last 13 games.

The Phoenix jumped out to a quick 13-4 lead, but the Lobos rallied, going on a 12-3 run to tie the game at 16. Wisconsin-Green Bay went cold from the field only hitting three baskets the rest of the half and trailed 29-26 at the break.