Michigan
Ohio State
Wolverines Beat Buckeyes in Columbus for First Time
2/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team picked up a hard-fought 65-61 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 6) at Value City Arena. With the win -- Michigan's first victory in Columbus in 19 tries -- the Wolverines improved to 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the Big Ten Conference, while Ohio State falls to 11-10 and 4-7.
Michigan jumped out quickly, taking an early 4-1 lead before the Buckeyes picked up their first basket at the 15:47 mark by guard Tomeka Brown. A LaToya Turner basket helped OSU jump out to a 5-4 advantage just 15:20 into the contest.
The first half saw back-and-forth action on both ends of the court. Junior guard Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) stole an inbound pass and went coast-to-coast for the easy layup, putting U-M up, 11-10. Turner added an easy basket to put OSU back up, 12-11. Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) added an easy layup from Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS), followed by a three-point play by Thorius as U-M went up 16-12 with 10:54 remaining in the first half. Back-to-back three pointers by OSU's Jamie Lewis helped the Buckeyes even the score at 18.
The Wolverines went on an 8-0 run to pull ahead 27-20 with 6:32 remaining. Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) led the way with four points, while Kenisha Walker (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston HS) and Goodlow added the other baskets. Ohio State answered with its own 8-0 run to pull ahead 28-27 with 1:09 remaining. A Thorius hoop helped U-M take a 29-28 lead heading to the locker room at halftime.
Michigan shot 46.2 percent (12-of-26) in the first half, while holding Ohio State to 35.5 percent (11-of-31). Thorius and Goodlow paced U-M's first-half attack with eight points each.
The second half saw continued back-and-forth action. Brown put Ohio State up 39-37 on a layup under the basket. An Ingram jumper evened the score at 39 with 13:04 remaining, and another jumper by Ingram helped U-M regain a 41-40 edge.
U-M went on a 6-2 run to go up 47-42. A pair of free throws by freshman LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) helped Michigan extend its lead to 51-42 with 8:10 remaining. Ohio State went on an 8-4 run to pull within five, 55-50. Thorius and Bies each added a pair of free throws to put U-M back up by nine, 59-50 with 3:28 remaining.
Michigan started to slowly pull away. Thorius added a running jumper as Michigan extended its lead to 11, 61-50 with 2:50 remaining. However, Ohio State made a quick run. After two U-M straight shot clock violations and a pair of baskets by Lauren Shenk and Michaela Moua, the Buckeyes trailed by five, 61-56 with 21 seconds to play. Ingram sealed the Wolverine victory, connecting on four of six free throws to earn the win, 65-61.
The Wolverines again received balanced scoring as four players finished in double figures, led by Thorius with 17 points. Ingram (13), Thomas (11) and Goodlow (10) also scored in double digits, and Thomas added a game-high 12 rebounds.
Michigan returns to Crisler Arena to face Indiana on Sunday (Feb. 13) at 4 p.m.
N O T E S
The Wolverines made their first-ever trip to Value City Arena a successful one, picking up their first win over Ohio State in Columbus. Michigan is now 1-18 all-time against the Buckeyes in Columbus.
U-M did not attempt one three-point shot in the first half, and finished the game 0-of-2 from the three-point line.
Stacey Thomas picked up her eighth double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Contact: Becky Olsen (734) 763-4423
