Michigan
Indiana
Wolverines Can't Recover From Slow Start, Fall at Indiana
2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team's modest two-game win streak came to an end today (Sunday, Feb. 18) with a 73-51 defeat to Indiana at Assembly Hall. The Wolverines scored just two of the first 17 points of the game and never recovered, dropping to 16-10 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines remain alone in fifth place in the Big Ten Conference but are now just one-half game ahead of Indiana (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) entering the final week of the regular season.
Early turnovers hampered the Wolverines on the offensive and as a result they were able to manage just two points on a Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) free-throw line jumper in the first four minutes. The Wolverines' sluggish start caused coach Sue Guevara to use a timeout at the 15:59 mark with Michigan trailing 8-2. Indiana came out of that timeout and rattled off seven straight points to go up 15-2 before a pair of free throws from Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) stopped the run at the 13:18 mark.
Although saddled with two fouls early, Goodlow came back off the bench to score in the post as the Wolverines cut the deficit under double digits at 17-8. Michigan continued to slowly climb back in the game, and a triple from Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) was in the middle of a 7-0 Michigan run that cut the deficit to four (17-13). Indiana used a 14-6 run to push its lead to 31-19, but Michigan scored six of the last eight points of the half to trail 33-25 at the intermission.
After shooting just .333 (10-30) from the floor in the first half and with Indiana shooting at a .542 (13-24) clip, Michigan was fortunate to be within 10 points at the break. Indiana's 3-8 (.375) shooting from the free throw line helped the Wolverine cause. Goodlow and LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) led Michigan with six points apiece in the first 20 minutes.
Freshman center Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS), who scored seven of Michigan's first nine points in the second half, helped keep Michigan within striking distance. Following Smith's seventh point of the half, Indiana went on a 12-1 run that stretched its lead from seven (41-34) to 18 (53-35). Indiana continued to pull away and eventually pushed its lead to as much as 23 (60-37) with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Down 23, Michigan came out of a timeout with full-court pressure for the first time in the game and forced back-to-back Indiana turnovers. A jumper from Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) was in the middle of a 6-0 Michigan run that cut the lead to 17 (60-43) with 7:25 left in the game. U-M was unable to put any further dent in the Hoosier lead due in large part to a .231 (9-39) shooting performance in the second half.
Michigan was led by Bies with 13 points, while Smith and Goodlow pitched in 11 and 10, respectively.
The Wolverines close out their regular-season schedule at No. 13 Penn State next Sunday (Feb. 25, 2 p.m.) at State College, Pa. ESPN will televise the contest.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
