Michigan
Illinois
Michigan Opens Big Ten Campaign with Win at Illinois
12/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team opened its 2000-01 Big Ten Conference season with a gutty 69-57, come-from-behind road win over Illinois at Huff Hall. Michigan came from at least seven points down on two different occasions as the Wolverines received 42 points from their three post players -- with a game-high 18 from freshman center Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) and 12 each from Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) and LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS).
Michigan (8-3, 1-0 Big Ten) and Illinois (4-7, 0-1 Big Ten) played an even first half, with the lead changing hands on four occasions. Michigan's first lead of the game came on a pair of free throws from junior Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) to make the score 8-7 at the 15:53 mark. The lead exchanged hands three more times before Illinois went on a 9-2 run to turn a 19-18 advantage into its biggest lead of the game at 28-20.
The run was halted, however, by a traditional three-point play from Smith, whose hoop and free throw led Michigan on a 9-2 run of their own to close the first half trailing just 30-29. Smith paced the Wolverines in the first half with 13 points. Michigan's aggressive penetration on the offensive end led to 13-15 (.867) shooting from the charity stripe in the first half. The free throw shooting helped to make up for Michigan's 14 first-half turnovers.
Michigan came out of the locker room strong, scoring the first six points to take a 35-30 lead. The 6-0 Michigan run included fast-break layups from Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) and Goodlow. Illinois slowly crept back in the game and after tying the contest at 44 went on a 7-0 run to take a 51-44 lead and force a Michigan timeout.
The momentum changed back to Michigan coming out of the timeout as the Wolverines converted on a four-point trip. With the shot clock winding down, Bies dropped in a layup and was fouled. Bies missed the subsequent free throw, but a rebound by Smith led to a free-throw line jumper from Bies. Michigan used that momentum to go on a 11-0 run and regain control with a 55-51 lead.
Michigan would not relinquish that lead as the Wolverines owned the play in the paint for the remainder of the game. Goodlow and Bies combined for 20 second-half points as the Wolverines pulled away for a 68-57 victory to open the conference campaign.
The Wolverines return home to host eighth-ranked Purdue on Saturday (Dec. 30) in Crisler Arena. The 2 p.m. contest will be televised by CBS Sports.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "This was a tough win in spite of ourselves. We turned the ball over 14 times in first half, but hung in there and got a huge win on the road."
N O T E S
-- Heather Oesterle's nine rebounds matched a career best.
-- Michigan has now beaten Illinois in three straight and four of the last five.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
