Michigan
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Western Michigan
Second-Half Burst Leads U-M Over Broncos in Showcase
12/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team won decisively for the second time in three days after turning a five-point halftime lead into a 84-56 rout over Western Michigan this afternoon (Sunday, Dec. 3) at the Women's College Basketball Showcase in Van Andel Arena. Freshman center Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) paced the Maize and Blue victory with career highs in points (18) and rebounds (10) on her way to the first double-double of her career.
Eastern Michigan defeated Michigan State 66-59 in the first game of the doubleheader showcasing four of the state of Michigan's NCAA Division I women's basketball programs.
The Broncos (1-3) came of the gate quickly and scored the first five points of the contest, giving them a lead they would hold for the first 14:38 of the game. Western was hot early and shot .520 (13-25) from the floor for the first half. Smith helped the Wolverines stay close early on by scoring on the block and getting to the free throw line, where she was a perfect 4-4 in the first frame. After two of Smith's free throws the Wolverines cut the deficit to two (14-12), before Western Michigan responded and pushed its lead back out to six (20-14).
Michigan junior forward Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) came off the bench to spark the Wolverines and either assisted on or scored the next eight points for the Wolverines as they cut the lead back to two and eventually tied it at 26 at the 5:22 mark on a pair of free throws from junior Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS). Ingram, who led Michigan with 20 points for the game and had 14 in the first half, knocked down a triple on Michigan's next possession to give the Wolverines their first lead at 29-28. The Wolverines never trailed again, and another Ingram triple helped Michigan on a 9-4 run to close out the half with a 38-33 lead.
After Michigan (5-2) pushed its lead to eight (44-36) early in the second half, consecutive three-point field goals by the Broncos cut the margin to two (44-42). However, that was as close as Western Michigan would get as the Wolverines responded with a 12-1 run to take control of the contest. Again it was Oesterle, who finished with a career-best six assists and six rebounds, sparking Michigan off the bench during the run by collecting a steal and knocking down a pair of jumpers. One key play during the run was a leaning jumper in the lane by Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) as the shot clock ran out.
Michigan maintained its double-digit lead the rest of the way with help off the bench from sophomore center LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), who scored a Michigan-best 12 second-half points and finished with 14. Despite the big lead, Michigan maintained its defensive intensity and held Western Michigan to a .240 (6-25) shooting percentage in the second half, while out-scoring the Broncos 46-23 in the second stanza. The large margin allowed head coach Sue Guevara to play a variety of players, including local Grand Rapids product Katie Dykhouse (Grand Rapids, Mich./Christian HS), who scored a season-best four points in four minutes of action.
Michigan returns home on Thursday (Dec. 7) to face Syracuse University at Crisler Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
N O T E S
-- Michigan has now defeated Western Michigan six straight times and in eight of the last 10 meetings.
-- Michigan's 84-point outburst today vs. Western Michigan is a Wolverine season best.
-- Michigan's 23 team assists recorded today vs. Western Michigan is a season best, while the 12 Wolverine turnovers was their second-lowest total of the season in that category.
-- Western Michigan head coach Ron Stewart was ejected at the 3:50 mark of the second half after drawing his second technical foul.
-- Van Andel Arena will also be the site of the 2001 Big Ten Conference Tournament on March 1-4.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "I thought we played one of our better games this season, particularly in the second half. Our ball movement offensively and our defensive intensity were good in the second half. I was pretty pleased with our ability to get the ball in the post and convert from in the paint."
On the play of Jennifer Smith and LeeAnn Bies ... "Those two kids can do some damage inside together. They are developing a nice chemistry together and both players are pretty good interior passers, which is something that opens things up for us."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
