Michigan
Stephen F. Austin
Wolverines Cruise Past Ladyjacks for Fifth Place
11/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team finished the 2000 Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic with two straight wins and a fifth-place finish after dominating Stephen F. Austin 74-49 this afternoon (Sunday, Nov. 26) at Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center. Freshman forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) sparked the Wolverine attack for the second straight game, leading the Wolverines with career bests in points (17) and rebounds (8).
Michigan led this game nearly the entire way, with the only tie coming at 2-2. A 6-0 Michigan run, including a triple from Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS), ensued and the Wolverines never looked back. Ingram scored 10 first-half points for the Wolverines on 4-7 shooting from the floor.
After the Ladyjacks cut the lead to three (9-6), Michigan answered with a 14-4 run as the Wolverines' solid defensive play allowed them to get out and run. Fast-break baskets from freshman Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) and Gandy along with another trey from Ingram ignited the Wolverine run and forced a Stephen F. Austin timeout, with the Wolverines leading 23-10 at the 10:57 mark.
Michigan, which shot .556 (15-27) from the floor in the first half, methodically increased its lead, and after a layup by sophomore LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) on a nice dish from Smith with 0:52 remaining, the Wolverines led 43-22. The Wolverines, which also out-rebounded Stephen F. Austin 25-15 in the first half, took that 43-22 lead into intermission.
Again the Wolverines opened up the second half in strong fashion as junior Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) scored the first six points of the second half for Michigan as it opened up a 49-24 lead. Junior Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) came off the bench to knock down a jumper and triple in succession as the Wolverine lead grew to a game-high 30 points (62-32) at the 10:05 mark.
Michigan's huge lead allowed some of the younger players quality minutes, including sophomore guard Infini Robinson (Detroit, Mich./Oak Park HS), who collected a season-best six points off the bench. Michigan maintained at least a 25-point lead the rest of the way and upped its season mark to 3-2 with a 74-49 win.
Michigan returns home for its next contest, on Friday (Dec. 1, 7 p.m.) vs. New Hampshire at Crisler Arena.
N O T E S
-- Michigan totaled a season-best 19 team assists in the win over Stephen F. Austin. Starting guards Alayne Ingram and Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) shared team-high honors with four apiece.
-- The Wolverines held Stephen F. Austin to .268 (19-71) shooting from the floor, a season low for a Michigan opponent.
-- Michigan continued to shine at the charity stripe, shooting .813 (13-16) in today's win.
-- Alayne Ingram represented the Wolverines on the eight-player all-tournament team. She recorded 42 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in three games at the Rainbow Wahine Classic.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "This was maybe the most complete game we have played this year, particularly in the first half. Our ball movement offensively was very good and we also got after it defensively, which allowed us to get out and run and get some easy hoops in transition."
On the play of Stephanie Gandy ... "Athletically, she gives us a huge lift in terms of defense, running the floor and rebounding. She is also showing a nice touch around the basket and is doing a very good job of finishing when she does get the ball on the break."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
