Weekly Release #6
12/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 12 -- at Toledo (Toledo, Ohio), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 16 -- at Louisiana State (Baton Rouge, La.), 2 p.m. CST
Friday, Dec. 21 -- vs. Oakland (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
| #14 (AP)/#15 (ESPN/USA Today) Michigan (7-1) at Toledo (3-4) | |
| When | Wednesday, Dec. 12 (7 p.m.) |
| Site | Toledo, Ohio (Savage Hall/9,000) |
| Television | None |
| Radio / Web | MGoBlue.com will link to Toledo's broadcast |
| Series Record | Michigan leads, 8-6 |
| Last Meeting | Michigan, 77-71 (12/16/00 at Ann Arbor, Mich.) |
| Coaches | Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982) Overall: 100-54 (6th season); at U-M: same Toledo -- Mark Ehlen (Ohio State, 1975) Overall: 265-178 (16th season); at Toledo: 143-48 (7th season) |
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| #14 (AP)/#15 (ESPN/USA Today) Michigan (7-1) at #21 Louisiana State (4-2) | |
| When | Sunday, Dec. 16 (2 p.m. CST) |
| Site | Baton Rouge, La. (Pete Maravich Assembly Center/14,164) |
| Television | None |
| Radio / Web | MGoBlue.com will link to LSU's broadcast |
| Series Record | LSU leads, 1-0 |
| Last Meeting | LSU, 67-56 (12/11/99 at Baton Rouge, La.) |
| Coaches | Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982) Overall: 100-54 (6th season); at U-M: same LSU -- Sue Gunter (Peabody, 1962) Overall: 637-286 (38th season); at LSU: 371-199 (20th season) |
Wolverines Take Seven-Game Win Streak Back on the Road
The nationally ranked Michigan women's basketball team (No. 14 Associated Press, No. 15 USA Today/ESPN) remains on the road for one more week before coming home next week for just its second home game of the year as a final tuneup for the Big Ten campaign. The Wolverines (7-1) put their seven-game win streak on the line twice this week with road contests at Toledo on Wednesday (Dec. 12, 7 p.m.) and at No. 21 Louisiana State on Sunday (Dec. 16, 2 p.m. CST).
Michigan faces Toledo, which won the Western Division of the Mid-American Conference as well as the conference tournament last season, at Savage Hall and the Rockets will be looking to avenge a tough 77-71 loss at Crisler Arena last season. The Wolverines' game at Louisiana State's Pete Maravich Assembly Center represents Michigan's ninth contest away from Crisler Arena in its first 10 games this season and is the Maize and Blue's final non-conference road tilt of the season.
The Story
Although Toledo has lost four of its last six contests, the Rockets already have a big win under their belts after defeating then-No. 5 Duke 71-65 at Savage Hall in their season opener. The Rockets are coming off a 108-95 triple-overtime loss to Xavier -- the same Xavier program that ousted No. 1 seed Tennessee from last year's NCAA Tournament -- on Sunday (Dec. 9) in the championship game of the Provident Bank Xavier Invitational. Toledo pushed Michigan to the limit at Crisler Arena a year ago, trailing just 34-32 at the half and giving the Wolverines all they could handle before succumbing 77-71.
Michigan's trip to Louisiana State on Sunday will be Michigan's third this season vs. a team ranked in the Top 25 and fourth contest of the season vs. a team ranked in the preseason Top 25 of both polls. Louisiana State last played on Dec. 4, beating Louisiana-Lafayette 81-49 at the Maravich Assembly Center. The Lady Tigers are 4-0 this season vs. unranked teams but have fallen to both ranked teams they have faced, losing at then-No. 20 Texas (65-63) and at home vs. then-No. 10 Purdue (70-54). Michigan and Louisiana State have met just one prior time, a 67-56 win for then-No. 15 Louisiana State on Dec. 11, 1999, in Baton Rouge.
Wolverines Gain Highest Ranking in Program's History
Michigan moved up in both polls this week (Dec. 10), climbing to program-best rankings in each. The Wolverines jumped two places to a listing of 14th in the Associated Press Top 25 and gained one postition to No. 15 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Michigan began the season ranked 17th by AP and 20th by USA Today/ESPN and has remained in the Top 20 each week in both polls.
Streaking
With their wins over Washington State (Dec. 7) and Washington (Dec. 9), the Wolverines have now won seven straight games since dropping their season opener at then-No. 6 Louisiana Tech (81-66) on Nov. 16. Michigan's 7-1 start this season matches the best eight-game start in the program's history. The 1989-90, 1996-97, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 teams all began the season 7-1. Only the 1998-99 team won its next two games for a 9-1 mark, which is the best 10-game start in school history. The following is a breakdown of the best starts in the school history and at what point their second losses occurred:
Best Starts in Program History
Year After 8 games Before second loss 2001-02 7-1 1999-00 7-1 7-1 1998-99 7-1 9-1 1996-97 7-1 8-1 1989-90 7-1 7-1
On the Air
Both Michigan contests this weekend will be broadcast live over the official websites for Toledo and Louisiana State athletics, with a link to each being provided on the Michigan women's basketball front page.
The Scouting Report
Toledo -- The Rockets (3-4) return four starters from last season's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship team ... The only starter not returning for Toledo is Kahli Carter, who lit up the Wolverines for 29 points a year ago ... Four Rockets average in double figures in scoring, led by Melantha Herron with a 14.6 average ... Toledo's conference tourney title earned it a bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Rockets lost to eventual Final Four team Southwest Missouri State in the first round ... Toledo on the Internet: utrockets.com.
Louisiana State: The No. 21 Lady Tigers (4-2) returned to their winning ways with an 81-49 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in their last game (Dec. 4) following two straight losses at then-No. 20 Texas (65-63) and vs. then-No. 10 Purdue (70-54) ... Louisiana State has four players averaging in double figures, with 6-0 freshman guard Scholanda Dorrell leading the way (16.0) ... The Lady Tigers have outscored their opponents 76.7-59.0 through their first six games ... LSU on the Internet: sports.lsu.edu.
Michigan-Toledo Last Season
The Wolverines' final tuneup prior to the Big Ten season a year ago was a home contest vs. Toledo that proved to be one of the tightest, most entertaining games of the season at Crisler Arena. Toledo led by as much as six in the first half and trailed the Wolverines by just two at the intermission (34-32), despite 3-4 from the three-point line by then-junior forward Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS). Toledo led 54-53 midway through the second half when Michigan went on a 11-0 run and eventually led by as much as 12 (70-58) with less than four minutes left. Toledo, however, clawed back to within six before a three-pointer from senior Anne Thorius (1998-2001) in the final minute iced the contest. LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) and Oesterle each chipped in 13 points in the win, while Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) added 11 and Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) tallied 10.
Michigan-Toledo Series
When the Wolverines travel to Toledo on Wednesday it will the 15th all-time meeting between the schools and will be Michigan's first trip to Toledo since Dec. 7, 1991. The Wolverines hold the all-time edge 8-6, but the schools have met just once since 1993 after meeting 13 times from 1973-92. In fact, the schools played each other once a year for 11 straight seasons from 1982-83 through 1992-93.
Michigan All-Time Results vs. Toledo (8-6)
Date W/L Score Site 1973-74 W 43-37 N/A 1974-75 L 53-41 N/A 12/29/82 L 79-67 H 12/22/83 L 72-53 A 12/21/84 W 82-62 H 12/1/85 W 70-66 A 12/30/86 W 66-55 H 12/30/87 W 64-63 A 12/1/88 W 85-75 H 12/22/89 L 65-47 A 12/22/90 W 75-74 H 12/7/91 L 89-69 A 12/1/92 L 90-67 H 12/16/00 W 77-71 H
Michigan and the MAC
Toledo is the only opponent this season for the Wolverines from the Mid-American Conference. Last season the Maize and Blue went 3-0 vs. the MAC with wins over Western Michigan (84-56) at the College Women's Basketball Showcase in Grand Rapids, Northern Illinois (78-57) at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, and over Toledo (77-71) at Crisler Arena. Michigan is 61-42 all-time over MAC foes, including 11-0 under head coach Sue Guevara.
Michigan vs. MAC Schools
OPPONENT OVERALL GUEVARA Ball State 2-0 --- Bowling Green 8-3 2-0 Central Michigan 14-8 4-0 Eastern Michigan 14-6 1-0 Kent 2-0 --- Miami (Ohio) 0-2 --- Northern Illinois 1-2 1-0 Ohio 3-1 --- Toledo 8-6 1-0 Western Michigan 9-14 2-0
Michigan-LSU: The Last Time
Michigan and Louisiana State's only prior meeting came early in the 1999-2000 season, with the Lady Tigers handing the Wolverines a 67-56 defeat in a nationally televised contest on ESPN2 as part of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge. Paced by 19 points from Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS), including 4-6 from behind the arc, Michigan was tied with 15th-ranked LSU at the intermission and led early in the second half. The Wolverines, however, were unable to overcome 22 turnovers and a shooting percentage of .339 from the field as LSU outscored Michigan 38-27 in the second frame. Then-sophomore Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) poured in 14 points for the Wolverine cause.
Common Ground
Michigan and its two opponents this week -- Toledo and Louisiana State -- each were part of last season's 64-team field for the NCAA Tournament. The comparisons do not stop there, however, as each team was ousted by an eventual Final Four participant. Toledo dropped a first-round decision to Southwest Missouri State (89-71) while LSU's season ended in the second round at the hands of eventual national runner-up Purdue (73-70). Purdue, which defeated SMS in the national semifinal, went on to lose the national championship game to Notre Dame, which had ended Michigan's season with an 88-54 defeat in the second round.
Second Trip to the Bayou
Sunday's tilt at Louisiana State is Michigan's second trip to the state of Louisiana in a month. The Wolverines opened up the 2001-02 season with an 81-66 loss at then-No. 6 Louisiana Tech on Nov. 16 in Ruston, La. The Wolverines also traveled to both Louisiana State and Louisiana Tech early in the 1999-2000 season, dropping both contests -- 67-56 at LSU and 84-64 at LTU.
Wolverines vs. NCAA Competition
Michigan's road games at Toledo and Louisiana State represent the fourth and fifth games the Wolverines have played this season vs. 2001 NCAA Tournament participants.
Michigan vs. 2001 NCAA Tournament Teams (2-1)
Date Opponent Result Nov. 16 at #6 Louisiana Tech L, 66-81 Dec. 2 vs. #23 Notre Dame W, 78-63 Dec. 9 at Washington W, 71-70
Michigan Wins Pair Out West
The Wolverines returned from their weekend venture in Seattle, Wash., with two more wins and a seven-game win streak intact after defeating Washington State (81-59) on Friday night (Dec. 7) and Washington (71-70) on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 9), with both games being played on Washington's home court at Bank of America Arena. The Wolverines opened the weekend with a sluggish first half against Washington State, which entered the game just 2-5. The Cougars grabbed a 38-29 lead at the half before Michigan turned it up a notch in the second half, outscoring Washington State 52-21 in the second half. Michigan grabbed the third-most single-game rebounds in the school history with 62 and four Wolverines scored in double digits with LeeAnn Bies leading the way with 18.
On Sunday Michigan managed to weather a school-record 11 triples from Washington en route to a 71-70 come-from-behind win in a game that went back and forth throughout. Eight ties and 15 lead changes highlighted a game that saw Bies score the final two of her career-high 27 points from the free throw line with just 10 seconds remaining to give Michigan the 71-70 win. Following Bies free throws, Washington came down the floor and did not convert on two mid-range jumpers in the final seconds. Michigan trailed by as much as eight in the first half and four at the break, before coming back in the second half to give Sue Guevara her 100th career victory.
Guevara's 100th Win Puts Her in Elite Company
Michigan sixth-year head coach Sue Guevara, who recently became the Wolverines' all-time winningest coach with the 67-52 win over Detroit on Nov. 18, reached 100 career wins at Michigan and overall as a college head coach with the win over Washington. Guevara became the 14th coach in Big Ten women's basketball history to reach 100 wins during her tenure at a conference school since the Big Ten began including women's sports in 1981-82.
Winningest Coaches at Big Ten School (since 1981-82)
| Rank, Coach | Wins | |
| 1. | Rene Portland, Penn State (22nd season) | 489 |
| 2. | Karen Langeland, Michigan State (24 seasons) | 376 |
| 3. | Vivian Strigner, Iowa (12 seasons) | 269 |
| 4. | Don Perrelli, Northwestern (15 seasons) | 251 |
| 5. | Nancy Darsch, Ohio State (12 seasons) | 234 |
| 6. | Lin Dunn, Purdue (nine seasons) | 206 |
| 7. | Jim Izard, Indiana (12 seasons) | 188 |
| 8. | Ellen Mosher-Hanson, Minnesota (10 seasons) | 172 |
| 9. | Debbie Wilson, Ohio State (8 seasons) | 157 |
| 10. | Jane Albright, Wisconsin (eighth season) | 140 |
| 11. | Edwina Qualls, Wisconsin (10 seasons) | 131 |
| 12. | Theresa Grentz, Illinois (seventh season) | 119 |
| 13. | Tara Van Derveer, Ohio State (four seasons) | 110 |
| 14. | Sue Guevara, Michigan (sixth season) | 100 |
Wolverines Streaking
Michigan has bounced back from its season-opening loss at then-No. 6 Louisiana Tech to win seven straight games. The Wolverines' current streak is two wins shy of matching the school record for consecutive wins of nine, which was set by the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 Wolverine teams. The 1999-2000 Wolverine team finished with a school-record 22 wins and placed a program-best second in the Big Ten regular season. That team dropped an 85-71 decision at seventh-ranked and eventual Big Ten champion Penn State before ripping off nine straight wins to close the regular season and open the Big Ten Tournament. Eventual Big Ten Tournament champion Purdue snapped Michigan's streak 74-59 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
Michigan vs. Preseason Top 25
When Michigan faces Louisiana State on Sunday it will mark the fourth time in 10 games Michigan has faced against a team tabbed among the Top 25 in the country to begin the season. Michigan, which was a preseason No. 17 selection by the AP and No. 20 by the coaches, is 2-1 against that field this season.
Michigan vs. the Preseason Top 25 (2-1)
Date Opponent (AP/Coaches) Result 11/26 at Louisiana Tech (6/6) L, 66-81 12/2 vs. Notre Dame (15/14) W, 78-63 12/9 at Washington (19/17) W, 71-70 12/16 at Louisiana State (NR/21)
Rewards
The key to Michigan's offense through its first eight games has been its ability to get ball down low to its post players. No statistic better evidences this than the Wolverines' absolute domination at the free throw line this season. Michigan has made 44 more free throws (139) than its opponents have attempted (95) for the season as well as having made and attempted more three throws than the opposition in each game this season. The Wolverines' work on the line has been so dominant that they have made as many or more charity tosses as their opponents have attempted in every game except one, when Marquette went 10 of 14 on the same night the Maize and Blue hit 11 of 15 from the stripe. For the season, Michigan is shooting .768 (139-181) and with two of its main post players leading the way. LeeAnn Bies is shooting .842 (48-57), while Jennifer Smith is knocking her free tosses down at an amazing .955 (21-22) clip. Smith missed her first free throw of the season against Washington after knocking down 17 straight to open the season.
Protecting the Ball
Michigan's Achilles heel appeared to be turnovers after coughing up 50 of them in its first two games of the season. However, since then Michigan has dished out more assists than given up turnovers in all but one game. With the exception of its 15-assist, 21-turnover performance vs. Washington State, Michigan has 96 assists compared to 73 turnovers in its last five games. Senior and former walk-on Susana Jara (Quito, Ecuador/Tustin, Calif. HS) leads the Maize and Blue in assist-to-turnover ratio with 21 assists to just six miscues.
Marksmen
Although Michigan has taken 126 fewer triples than its opposition in the first eight games of the season, the Wolverines are making when they do hoist from behind the arc. Led by Alayne Ingram's mark of .533 (16-30) from three-point land, Michigan has cashed in on its triple attempts at a .469 (30-64) pace. Despite shooting 126 more triples, Michigan's opponents have made just 21 more and are shooting .268 from that range.
What Does She Say
As was the case last season, Michigan is gaining a reputation as a second-half team, especially after turning a nine-point halftime deficit (38-29) into an 81-59 victory over Washington State. Michigan is outscoring its opponents by a modest 35.3-33.1 margin in the first half, but has been a different team coming out of the locker room. The Wolverines have outscored their opponents 38.9-30.8 in the second half, including a 43.5-25.5 advantage in their last two games.
First for Freshman
Freshman wing Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), with whom Michigan is 6-0 as a starter, notched her first career double-double in the win over Washington State. Pool snagged a career-best and game-high 13 boards to go with 16 points along with another career best of six assists.
Defense to Offense
In a season of firsts for senior Susana Jara, her performance in the win at Washington may have been the best of her career. Jara, who leads Michigan with 21 steals, created four in the win over Washington and turned three of them into her own breakaway layups in Michigan's 71-70 win over the Huskies. The Wolverines are 6-0 in games Jara has started this season.
Back Home
Back on the West Coast in a Michigan uniform, California native Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame Prep HS) earned her most extensive action as a Wolverine in the win over Washington State. Hauser-Price played 17 minutes, scoring three points and grabbing a pair of rebounds.
Staying Active
Sophomore forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) has been a spark plug off the bench for the Wolverines over the last six games. Gandy has provided a variety of roles for Michigan, grabbing nine rebounds on two occasions and attacking the basket on the offensive end. Her aggressiveness offensively is evidenced by the 5-10 wing player's 34 trips to the free throw line, second on the team behind LeeAnn Bies.
Stepping Up
With an injury keeping Raina Goodlow out of the lineup each of the last three games, freshman center Katrina Mason (Detroit, Mich./Murray-Wright HS) has accepted her increased role with open arms. Mason was especially opportunistic in the win over Washington State, corralling a career-best 11 boards and dropping a career-high nine points. Fellow freshman post player BreAnne McPhilamy (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) also posted a career best in that game with four rebounds.
Whatever is Needed
Senior guard Alayne Ingram, who has manned both the point and shooting guard positions for the Wolverines this season is doing all the little things in addition putting up her usual offensive numbers. Ingram, who is Michigan's second leading scorer, also leads the Wolverines in assists with 25 and for good measure collected a career-best seven rebounds the last time out, a win over Washington.
Dominant
Dominant is the best way to describe the recent play of junior center LeeAnn Bies, who earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for her performances against Washington State and Washington last week. The preseason All-Big Ten selection averaged 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, which included torching Washington for a career-best 27 points in the win over the Huskies.
Double Trouble
LeeAnn Bies added 11 rebounds to her 27-point outing against Washington for her team-best fourth double-double of the season. Bies has 15 doubles-doubles for her career. Additionally, Bies is the only Wolverine to score in double figures in seven of the team's eight games.
Bies' Double-Doubles in 2001-02
Date Opponent Pts-Rebs 11/18 at Detroit 24-11 11/29 vs. Marquette 11-12 12/2 vs. Notre Dame 18-12 12/9 at Washington 27-11
Smith Solid
Sophomore center Jennifer Smith has started each of the last three games in place of the injured Raina Goodlow and played very well next to LeeAnn Bies down low. Smith, who had her string of 17 straight free throws made to open the season snapped at Washington, has averaged 11.3 points and eight rebounds in those three starts, shooting .565 (13-23) from the field. Smith has also scored in double figures on six occasions this season, second only to Bies' seven times.
Defending Champs Go Down Again
For the second time in three years Michigan has defeated the defending national champion. In addition to this season's win over Notre Dame (78-63) on Dec. 2, the Wolverines defeated then-defending national champion Purdue 74-67 on Jan. 8, 2000, before the home crowd at Crisler Arena and a national television audience on CBS. Current Wolverine Raina Goodlow added 10 points in the win over Purdue.
Ingram Breaks Mark
Senior guard Alayne Ingram, who is playing both guard positions this season, became the Wolverines' all-time leader in three-point field goals with her first of three triples in the win over Notre Dame (Dec. 2). Ingram, who now has 137 career trifectas, passed the mark of 134 that was set by Michigan's current director of basketball operations Molly Murray, who played for the Wolverines from 1995-98. Ingram is also eighth on the career list with 277 assists and 13th with 1,104 career points.
Schedule, Part 1
The Wolverines will be road warriors in 2001-02 with nine of their first 10 games on the road and just 10 total home tilts among their 27-game regular-season schedule.
Schedule, Part 2
Michigan, which set a school record last season with five victories over ranked opponents, will face eight 2001 NCAA Tournament teams a total of 11 times in regular-season schedule, including contests against the defending NCAA champion (Notre Dame) and national runner-up (Purdue). Michigan beat Notre Dame 78-63 on Dec. 2 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., and will face the Boilermakers twice (Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. CST, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.). Michigan also faced two 2000-01 Elite Eight team this year, beating Washington 71-70 on Dec. 9 after losing to then-No. 6 Louisiana Tech 81-66 in its season opener (Nov. 16).
WOLVERINE PROBABLES (Stats from 2001-02)
Pos No Player Yr. Ht. PPG RPG F 1 Tabitha Pool Fr. 6-1 11.4 5.4 F 54 Jennifer Smith So. 6-3 10.4 6.3 C 44 LeeAnn Bies Jr. 6-3 17.8 8.6 G 40 Alayne Ingram Sr. 5-7 15.1 3.6* G 4 Susana Jara Sr. 5-7 2.6 2.6* * assists per game
2001-02 Top 25 Polls (12/10/01)
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Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
