Michigan
The Family Inc. (ex)
Michigan Dominates Exhibition Opener with 98-76 Win
11/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team proved that there is life after Stacey Thomas as it opened up its season with a 98-76 exhibition win over The Family, Inc. on Sunday (Nov. 5) in front of 339 fans at Crisler Arena. Michigan shot 53.2 percent (33-62) from the field and was paced by LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), who connected on 6-of-6 field goal attempts en route to 15 points to go along with seven boards.
The Wolverines used this exhibition game to test the waters, get out the "kinks," and utilize their bench as much as possible. At the end of the first half, Michigan led The Family 49-35 with contributions from all four freshmen and some other "fresh" faces. Despite their 11 turnovers, the Wolverines shot 60 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line in the opening stanza compared to The Family's marks of 36.8 and 60, respectively.
In the second half, Michigan opened up its margin over The Family and led by as many as 32 points. Michigan's big lead was due in part to solid defensive play as the Wolverines held The Family to .324 shooting in the second half and .347 for the game.
Michigan coach Sue Guevara gave everybody on the team a chance to get her feet wet and even had as many as four freshmen in the lineup at one time. Junior guard Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) led the Wolverines with 17 points, including two hoops from beyond the three-point line, as well as contributing three assists for the game.
While Ingram scored from the perimeter, Michigan owned much of the contest in the paint. The Wolverines out-rebounded The Family 49-40 and received a major contribution from junior forward Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS), who led Michigan with eight rebounds. Oesterle also went 4-for-4 from the line. Freshman center Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./Dewitt HS) also did well low in the post, going 7-for-10, putting up 15 points and grabbing seven boards.
When Michigan was not scoring in the paint it converted several easy hoops off its transition game, which led to 21 team assists. Freshman point guard Michaela Leary (Nashua, N.H./Nashua HS) came off the bench to lead Michigan with five assists, while starting point guard Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) dished out three assists.
Smith and Leary paced a Michigan bench contingent that wore down The Family with defensive pressure and an up-tempo offense. Sophomore guard Infini Robinson (Detroit, Mich./Oak Park HS) and freshman forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) were the benefactors in transition, notching 10 and seven points, respectively.
Michigan plays one more exhibition game, on Monday, Nov. 13 (7 p.m.) at Crisler Arena vs. the Houston Jaguars, before opening its regular-season schedule on Friday, Nov. 17 (7 p.m.) vs. Louisiana Tech, also at Crisler Arena.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... I was pleased to see how well we moved the ball, and to look at the stat sheet and see 21 assists is a good feeling. I thought we did some nice things overall, but it was also pretty sloppy, which you can expect in the first game of the year."
On what Michigan needs to work on ... "I am not happy to see us giving up 16 offensive rebounds. That is something we need to work on and do a better job of executing in terms of boxing out."
Junior Guard Alayne Ingram
On coming together as a team ... "I think we will eventually, but it is hard to get everybody on the same page this early in the season. I think it was good for us to get a chance to go out and play somebody else instead of banging on each other like we have the past few weeks."
