Michigan
Penn State
Michigan Falls Short of No. 20-Ranked Penn State
1/17/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score:Â #20 Penn State 74, Michigan 66
Records:Â U-M (9-6, 1-4 Big Ten), PSU (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game:Â Wednesday, Jan. 20 -- vs. Michigan State (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Behind 69.2 percent three-point shooting (9-of-13) and a double-double from senior forward Clara Carter, No. 20 Penn State managed its third straight win with a 74-66 decision over the University of Michigan women's basketball team Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17) in Crisler Arena.
Facing their third nationally ranked opponent this year and trying to end a four-game losing streak, the Wolverines came out fighting against the Lady Lions. Michigan (9-6, 1-4 Big Ten) fought back from deficits of 13, 10 and 18 points through the course of the game, coming within four at 3:33 in the second half.
Back in the starting rotation for Michigan, freshman guard Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) led Wolverine scorers and tied for game-high honors with 16 points. Carter paced Penn State with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Penn State (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early 13-point lead (21-8) at 11:43 on the first of three three-point field goals from Chrissy Falcone. Michigan quickly quelled the Lion run with seven unanswered points of its own, bringing U-M within five, 22-17, at 8:02. Penn State responded with another streak while Michigan was held scoreless for the following 3:21, giving the Lions an 18-point edge, 35-17, their largest of the half. Four points from both Ingram and sophomore point guard Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark) reeled Penn State closer, and Michigan closed the half with a nine-point deficit, 40-31.
For the first 12 minutes of the second stanza, Penn State slowly padded its lead, eventually going up by 18 (66-48) at the 8:24 mark on a triple from sophomore Lisa Shepherd. Michigan made its third attack, holding Penn State at 66 for over two minutes while it went on a 9-0 run. With 3:33 on the clock, freshman Raina Goodlow's (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) layup gave Michigan hope, bringing the Wolverines within four, 70-66. That would prove to be Michigan's final bucket, and Penn State added four points to conclude the Big Ten matchup.
Joining Ingram in double figures was Thorius with 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting. She added six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Alison Miller (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and one assist. Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy), Michigan's leading scorer for the season, was held to six points, nine rebounds, one block and three steals.
The Wolverines conclude a two-game homestand by hosting Michigan State on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. The matchup was originally set for Jan. 3 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
NOTES
• The good news is Michigan's free throw shooting is back. The bad news is that the Wolverines are not getting to the line often enough. In the last three games, U-M is shooting 83.3 percent from the foul line, hitting 20-of-24 overall. U-M was 6-for-7 against Minnesota, 8-of-9 at Wisconsin and 6-of-8 against Penn State.
• Michigan faced Penn State with just three players on the bench. Six Wolverines played at least 22 minutes, with another at 19 and the eighth player in for one minute.
QUOTES
Michigan Coach Sue Guevara
"It's nice to see my old team back. We played with intensity, heart and emotion without a lot of players. Three times we made major runs back, we just couldn't get over the hump. We did a decent job on the boards. Penn State's inside play is very good. Between (Andrea) Garner and (Clara) Carter you saw two very physical post players."
"This is a better team than we were a week ago tonight, or even last Friday. I can't fault my team's work ethic, now they just need to play with a little more brain."
On Stacey Thomas ... "When Stacey Thomas goes 3-for-14 and scores six points, you're not going to win. She's been struggling from the floor and we need others to pick up for her. I told Ruth (Kipping), Alison (Miller) and Raina (Goodlow) that we need them to get two to three more points than they're averaging to make up for it."
U-M Freshman Guard Alayne Ingram
"I'm a fierce competitor and I hate to lose. Each game is a learning experience, and we have to bounce back. I'm just trying to look for opportunities and when they come, I seize them. I'm not trying to do too much, or too little."
Penn State Coach Rene Portland
"I'm thrilled with the win. We knew this was going to be a dog fight. Last year we won in overtime here, and then Michigan came to our place and won. Michigan is a terrific rebounding team, but the big thing was holding Stacey Thomas. Our defense on her was very effective. The two runs Michigan had were great runs. There was a lot of great individual play on their part."
On Michigan's Stacey Thomas ... "We talk about Stacey all the time, I'm a big fan of hers. We have all the respect in the world for her. I spent a lot of time with her and her father when she was at trials with USA Basketball. We were concerned about her steals. (Shawnta) Vanzant and (Helen) Darling did a good job on her defensively, and she still ended up with her steals."
