Michigan
Ohio State
Strong Finish Leads Buckeyes Past Wolverines
1/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team succumbed in the final minutes of a closely contested battle against Ohio State, falling 76-68 in front of 2,712 at Crisler Arena on Sunday (Jan. 14). The loss dropped the Wolverines (9-7, 2-4 Big Ten) into an eighth-place tie with the Buckeyes (12-4, 2-4 Big Ten) in the Big Ten Conference standings.
Michigan got on the board first with two points from freshman forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS). Both teams continued an even exchange of baskets throughout the first 10 minutes of the opening half. Michigan began to pull away from the Buckeyes with eight minutes left in the half, with key three-point baskets from senior co-captain Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) and junior Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS).
Ohio State fought tough in the waning minutes of the period, whittling the lead back to two, and Michigan went into the locker room at halftime with a 38-36 lead. The Wolverines were led in scoring during the first period by sophomore LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), who shot 6-of-7 for 12 points.
The Wolverines faced a tougher Ohio State team in the opening plays of the second half as the Buckeyes scored on their first two drives and took a lead for the first time since the 11:00 mark of the first half. Michigan quickly rebounded and resumed the lead. The game returned to an exchange of baskets on both ends of the court. Junior Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) hit two shots in a row to give Michigan a five-point lead.
The Buckeyes continued to press and soon pulled ahead of the Wolverines, drawing out a seven-point lead with a minute and a half left in the game, and stayed on top until the final buzzer sounded.
Michigan was led in scoring by Bies, who finished the day with 18 points. Also contributing for the Wolverines were Gandy and Goodlow, who finished with 16 and 10, respectively. Thorius led the Wolverines in assists with five.
The Wolverines will travel to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern University on Thursday (Jan. 18) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. CST.
N O T E S
-- With 10 points and 12 rebounds, Raina Goodlow scored her first double-double of her career and set a career high in rebounds.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the loss to Ohio State ... "It was a very disappointing loss. We did execute the plays, we just did not finish our plays. That was the worst part -- we just couldn't finish. We didn't have people who could score in the end. We turned the ball over three times in a row and they (Ohio State) got six points off of them."
On rebounding from this game ... "This team won't give up. We just have to have people who are willing to step up and play. A week from today we have to go back to Ohio State and play them, but right now we have to focus on our next game. We have to focus on Northwestern."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
