Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Drops Nail-Biter at Wisconsin
1/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's Tamara Moore scored the go-ahead basket with 28 seconds remaining, then added two free throws with 0:02 to play to seal the win as the Badgers handed the University of Michigan women's basketball team a 72-69 defeat on Thursday (Jan. 20) before a crowd of 7,386 at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin (9-6, 3-3 Big Ten) made 20-of-21 (.952) from the free throw line and outshot the Wolverines .500 to .353 from the field.
Coming off back-to-back wins over ranked teams, Michigan (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) looked to be on the way to its third straight victory as the Wolverines led by as many as 13 points in the first half before settling for a 36-29 halftime margin. Starting forwards Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) and Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) paced U-M with 11 and 10 points, respectively, and five rebounds apiece in the opening 20 minutes.
Wisconsin quickly reversed the momentum in the second half, capping a 26-7 run with 13 unanswered points to lead 53-43 with 12:30 on the clock. The Wolverines, however, responded with an 8-0 run of their own as Thomas hit a a pair of three-pointers and LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) made two free throws to slash the margin back down to two, 55-53, at the 8:35 mark.
The Badgers slowly built their lead back to eight points, 64-56 with 3:53 remaining, and two free throws from Moore put Wisconsin up 66-60 with just under two minutes to play. The Wolverines then put together a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS), to grab a 67-66 lead with 1:09 to play.
After the teams traded baskets, Moore stuck in a layup with 0:28 to play to give Wisconsin a 70-69 lead. Michigan got the ball back and worked the clock down, but Goodlow's shot with nine seconds remaining was off the mark, the Badgers' LaTonya Sims grabbed the rebound, and Moore was fouled and converted the two free throws with 0:02 left.
Thomas posted her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with a game-high 23 points and adding 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists. Goodlow scored 15 points and tied her career high with eight boards, while Alison Miller (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) added 10 points.
Michigan returns home to face Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 23, with a 2 p.m. tipoff at Crisler Arena.
Contact: Becky Olsen (734) 763-4423
