Michigan
Purdue
Wolverines Drop Road Decision to No. 7 Boilermakers
12/30/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| | Ingram |
However, that was as close as the Wolverines would get for the remainder of the period as Purdue closed the half on a 12-3 run to push a 25-16 lead to a 37-19 advantage at the break. Michigan's Achilles heel continued to be its ball security as the Wolverines committed 11 turnovers in the first half while tallying just three assists. Meanwhile, Purdue was making the Wolverine zone defense pay from the perimeter as the Boilermakers connected on 7 of 14 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes. Purdue had made just 47 triples through its first 10 games of the season (4.7 per game) but came up with seven in the first frame.
Ingram was the only highlight of Michigan's first half, scoring 13 of the Wolverines' 19 points. Michigan's leading scorer LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), who was averaging 16.8 points, was held scoreless by the Boilermakers in the first half. Bies attempted just three field goals despite playing 17 minutes through the first frame.
Bies got on the scoreboard to open the second half for Michigan and Ingram delivered her second triple of the game, but a pair of turnovers led to Purdue layups and the Boilermakers maintained a 19-point lead (47-28) under the 16-minute mark. Both teams struggled over the next four minutes, but Purdue was able to expand its lead to more than 20 (51-30) while Michigan could just manage a Bies hoop over a four-minute stretch.
At the 10-minute mark Michigan began to settle down on the offensive end as Bies and fellow post player Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) scored the next six points of the game and Michigan trimmed the deficit to 15 (51-36). Wolverine head coach Sue Guevara then went to her bench for some defensive pressure as freshman Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame Prep HS) helped Ingram force a turnover, which led to a Hauser-Price layup on the other end as Michigan cut the lead to 13 (55-42) as the six-minute mark.
That was as close as the Wolverines would get as Purdue ran off the next eight points to push its lead back to 21 (63-42) with less than four minutes remaining. Purdue then cruised to the 69-47 win.
Michigan returns home for its next contest vs. instate rival Michigan State on Wednesday (Jan. 2, 7 p.m.) at Crisler Arena. It is the only meeting of the season between the Wolverines and Spartans.
N O T E S
The Wolverines were held to a season lows in points (47), field goal percentage (.360, 18-50), field goals (18, tie) and free throws (8, tie).
Michigan's 0-2 Big Ten start marks the first time since 1995-96 the Wolverines have been winless after two conference games.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "I have not seen that Michigan team play this year. Purdue got out quick and did a good job of pressuring the ball and then things snowballed from there. I thought Alayne Ingram fought as hard as she could, but she needed some help."
On starting out 0-2 in the Big Ten ... "There are 14 games left on the Big Ten schedule and we have to take the approach of one game at a time. This team gets a chance to show its heart on Wednesday in our own house against Michigan State."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
