The Green Bay women's basketball team (19-4, 11-1) avenged its Horizon League loss to Valparaiso Thursday evening, as the Phoenix defense clamped down in a 65-44 win over the Crusaders.

Junior guard Rachel Porath led the way with her second double-double of the season with 19 points to go with a career-tying high 12 rebounds. Porath was on fire from long range in the contest, going a career-best 5-of-7 from downtown.

Kayla Groh and Lavesa Glover also scored in double figures, with Groh adding 18 points thanks to 4-of-6 three-point shooting while Glover made her first five field goal attempts of the night on the way to a 15-point effort.

After a back-and-forth start to the game that had four ties and four lead changes in the first 12 minutes, Green Bay put a defensive vice on Valpo, holding the Crusaders to just three field goals over the final 12 minutes of the second half while pouring in 23 points to take a 40-24 lead at the break.

Valpo (11-12, 6-6) did not go quietly, scoring the first seven points of the second half to cut the Green Bay lead to nine. But the Phoenix held the Crusaders to just 13 points over the final 17:45 of the game to seal the win.

Green Bay out-rebounded Valparaiso 40-24 and had 17 assists to Valpo's seven. The Phoenix also held Valpo to 36.7 percent shooting on the night, the 10th foe Green Bay has held under that mark this season.

Agnieszka Kulaga had 20 points for Valpo and was the only player to score in double figures for the guests.

With Cleveland State's and Milwaukee's losses Thursday, the Phoenix lead in the Horizon League improved to three games with six games to play. Green Bay also has the tie-breaker on Cleveland State, who has a half-game lead on third-place Wright State.

Green Bay returns to action Saturday, Feb. 16 against Butler in a game televised live by ESPNU at 3 p.m. central.