Weekly Release #3
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, Nov. 29 -- vs. Massachusetts (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 -- vs. Detroit (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.
Sat-Sun., Dec. 7-8 -- at Provident Bank Xavier Invitational (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Dec. 7 -- vs. Saint Louis, 3 p.m.
Dec. 8 -- consolation/championship, 1/3 p.m.
Complete Release in PDF (20 pages, 99.2 KB)
| Michigan (2-0) vs. Massachusetts (2-0) | |
| When | Friday, Nov. 29 (7 p.m.) |
| Site | Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena/13,751) |
| Television | UMTV/MGoBlue.com |
| Radio/Internet | none/MGoBlue.com |
| Series Record | 0-0, 1st meeting |
| Coaches | Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982) Overall: 112-66 (7th year); School: same Massachusetts -- Marnie Dacko (Southern Connecticut State, 1978) 82-104 (8th season); School: 2-0 (first season) |
| Michigan (2-0) vs. Detroit (0-2) | |
| When | Sunday, Dec. 1 (2 p.m.) |
| Site | Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena/13,751) |
| Television | UMTV |
| Radio/Internet | none/MGoBlue.com |
| Series Record | Detroit leads, 11-5 |
| Last Meeting | Michigan, 67-52 (11/18/01 in Detroit, Mich.) |
| Coaches | Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982) Overall: 112-66 (7th year); School: same Detroit -- Ann Rexford (Oakland, 1984) Overall: 51-37 (4th season); School: same |
QUICK DRIBBLES
Michigan has outrebounded its opponents 86-60 in its first two games, including a 56-31 advantage off the defensive glass.
The Wolverines are 42-54 (.778) from the free throw line this season while their opponents are 13-14 (.929), which means the Maize and Blue are making (42) exactly three times as many charity tosses as their opponents are attempting (14).
While post players Jennifer Smith and LeeAnn Bies are combining for 27.5 points and 16.5 rebounds in the first two games, the Wolverine perimeter players are also shooting .500 (9-18) from behind the arc led by Stephanie Gandy's mark of .800 (4-5).
Fifth-year senior Raina Goodlow's three rebounds in the win over UCSB gave her 400 caroms for her career.
LeeAnn Bies' two assists in the win over UCSB gave her 100 for her career.
Jennifer Smith is just seven rebounds shy of 400 for her career.
Opening Tip
The University of Michigan women's basketball team continues its four-game homestand this weekend with a pair of tilts at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (2-0) first host Massachusetts (2-0) on Friday (Nov. 29, 7 p.m.) before instate rival Detroit (0-2) comes to town on Sunday (Dec. 1, 2 p.m.). Michigan last opened a season with three wins in 1999-2000 when the Wolverines enjoyed the best start in school history by winning their first seven contests. The Michigan-UMass meeting will be their first, while Michigan and Detroit will be meeting for the 17th time and second straight season. Michigan beat the Titans 67-52 in Detroit, Mich., in its second game last season (Nov. 18, 2001).
On the Tube
Both Michigan contests this weekend against Massachusetts and Detroit will be televised live locally in the Ann Arbor area on UMTV with Doug Karsch providing the play-by-play. The audio and video of the broadcast will also air live over the official website for Michigan Athletics: MgoBlue.com.
Promotions
The Michigan women's basketball team will conduct an autograph session immediately following its game against Detroit on the north side concourse in Crisler Arena above the tunnel.
The Opponents
Massachusetts (2-0): UMass opened the season with wins over Sacred Heart (74-48) on Nov. 22 and St. Peter's (52-49) on Monday (Nov. 25). The Minutewomen were picked to finish third in the Eastern Division of the Atlantic 10 while senior center Jennifer Butler was picked as a preseason all-conference first-team performer. Butler is averaging 10.5 points and 16.5 rebounds through UMass' first two victories. Senior forward-center Nekole Smith is an Ann Arbor, Mich., native and graduate of Huron High School. UMass on the Internet: www.umassathletics.com
Series vs. Michigan: first meeting
Detroit (0-2): The Titans are 0-2 after dropping contests at Oakland (65-58) on Nov. 22 and at Colorado (86-43) on Nov. 24. Detroit led Oakland 28-23 at halftime but was outscored by 12 in the second frame. Detroit returns two starters from a team last season that went 16-14 overall and finished third in the Horizon League (9-7). Junior guard-forward Lori Wilde is leading the Titans in scoring (9.0) while senior center-forward Michelle Bortz paces Detroit on the glass (7.0). Detroit on the Internet: www.detroittitans.com
Series vs. Michigan: Detroit leads, 11-5
Michigan-Detroit Rematch
The Wolverines and Titans meet this year for the 17th time in the series and it marks the first time the teams have met in consecutive seasons since the 1992-93 and 1993-94 campaigns. Detroit won the first seven meetings, but Michigan came up with the win in five of the last nine meetings, including the last two. Michigan shot just .278 from the field in the first half a year ago against Detroit and led just 25-22 at the intermission. The Titans took a one-point lead midway through the second half, but Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) came off the bench to score all 15 of her points in the second half to help Michigan pull away for a 67-52 win. Also thanks to 24 points and 11 rebounds from LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), Michigan coach Sue Guevara became the winningest coach in Michigan history with her 94th career win. Here is a game-by-game look at the Michigan-Detroit series:
| Date | W/L | Score | Site |
| 2-27-78 | L (OT) | 86-91 | A |
| 12-2-78 | L | 69-78 | H |
| 2-14-79 | L | 55-91 | A |
| 12-13-79 | L | 66-79 | H |
| 2-28-80 | L | 76-86 | N |
| 1-17-81 | L | 73-85 | A |
| 3-5-81 | L | 79-92 | N |
| 2-6-82 | W | 83-66 | H |
| 1-3-83 | W | 68-63 | A |
| 12-17-83 | L | 65-72 | H |
| 12-16-84 | L | 49-63 | A |
| 12-21-85 | W | 82-67 | A |
| 1-4-93 | L | 73-74 | H |
| 1-9-94 | L | 69-79 | A |
| 11-18-98 | W | 96-73 | H |
| 11-18-01 | W | 67-52 | A |
Dropping Out
Despite its impressive win over Creighton on Nov. 22, Michigan dropped out of the others receiving votes category in this week's Associated Press Top 25. This week's poll came out about an hour before the tipoff to Michigan's win over No. 24 UCSB on Monday (Nov. 25).
Out of the Blocks
Despite starting an all-freshmen backcourt of Mie Burlin (Challotenlund, Denmark/BMS Herleb) and Niki Reams (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS), Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 start with home wins over Creighton (75-66) on Nov. 22 and No. 24 UC Santa Barbara (70-64) on Monday (Nov. 25). Junior forward Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) paced the Michigan win over Creighton with 21 points on 7-11 shooting, while Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) came off the bench to net 13 points. Michigan used a 24-9 edge in free throws made to lead from start to finish against the defending Missouri Valley champions.
Three nights later Michigan used a 49-29 rebounding edge and a 14-0 run over the final four minutes of the game to notch a come-from-behind 70-64 win over 24th-ranked UCSB. Gandy paced Michigan with 15 points, including 3-4 from three-point range, while sophomore Tabitha Pool added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Off and Running
After coming back to defeat UCSB on Monday, Michigan is off to its first 2-0 start since the 1999-2000 season when Michigan set a school record with 22 wins and finished a program-best second in the Big Ten with a mark of 13-3. This is the third time in head coach Sue Guevara's seven seasons the Wolverines have started out 2-0. Michigan set a school record in 1999-2000 for consecutive wins to open a season with seven.
Another Ranked Foe Goes Down
The Wolverines' win over No. 24 UCSB on Monday (Nov. 25) was their 17th all-time against a ranked opponent and 15th since Sue Guevara took over the reigns at Michigan for the 1996-97 season. Guevara led the Wolverines to a school-record five wins over ranked teams during Michigan's 2000-01 season and its run to the NCAA Tournament. The following are Guevara's wins over ranked teams:
Date Ranked Opponent Score 1/9/98 No. 23 Purdue 67-59 2/8/98 No. 23 Purdue 62-60 2/28/98 No. 24 Wisconsin 79-70 1/29/99 No. 19 Ohio State 85-71 OT 1/8/00 No. 12 Purdue 74-67 1/17/00 No. 12 Illinois 86-69 2/3/00 No. 23 Illinois 70-59 11/17/00 No. 8 Louisiana Tech 69-66 1/11/01 No. 13 Penn State 71-62 2/15/01 No. 25 Iowa 80-78 2/25/01 No. 19 Penn State 75-74 3/2/01 No. 19 Penn State 66-60 12/2/01 No. 23 Notre Dame 78-63 12/16/01 No. 21 LSU 86-81 2OT 11/25/02 No. 24 UC Santa Barbara 70-64
Michigan Dominating the Stripe
One of the keys to Michigan's early success this season has been its ability to get to the free throw line. A combination of powerful inside game and solid guard penetration have led to Michigan attempting 40 more free throws than its opponents through the first two games. The Wolverines made 24-33 charity tosses in the win over Creighton, while the Bluejays managed just 9-10 from the free throw line. Michigan again dominated the stripe in the win over No. 24 UCSB, knocking down 18-21 while the Gauchos only made four trips to the line, making all four. For the year the Wolverines are shooting .778 (42-54) while their opponents are shooting .929 (13-14), but with 40 fewer attempts. Surprisingly, freshman guard Lauren Andrews (Houston, Texas/Klein Forest HS) leads Michigan with 14 trips to stripe and is knocking down her free throws at a .786 (11-14) clip.
Double Duty
Michigan post players Jennifer Smith and LeeAnn Bies each posted a double-double in points and rebounds in the comeback win over No. 24 UCSB. Bies totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Smith collected 10 points and 10 rebounds, marking the first time the pair had pulled off double-doubles in the same game since a 58-45 win over Michigan State on Jan. 2, 2002. Bies' double-double is the first of the season and 19th of her career, while Smith's is her first of the season and ninth of her career.
Wiping the Glass
Michigan overcame 25 turnovers to upset 24th-ranked UCSB primarily because the Wolverine dominated the glass on both ends of the floor to the tune of a 49-29 statistical advantage. Michigan's plus-20 rebounding edge was its largest since outrebounding Oakland by 20 in a 71-42 win on Dec. 21, 2001. Of Michigan's 49 total rebounds against UCSB, 21 came on the offensive end, led by five from Jennifer Smith and four each from LeeAnn Bies and guard Niki Reams. The Wolverines' 21 offensive rebounds is their highest total since corralling 28 in an 81-59 win over Washington State on Dec. 7, 2001.
Novembers to Remember
Despite playing some of the best competition in the country, Michigan has been a tough team to beat out of the gate in November under Sue Guevara. With their 2-0 start this season, the Wolverines are 27-5 (.844) in November with Guevara at the helm. Michigan has not loaded up on patsies, taking on the likes of Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Washington, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Syracuse and Colorado State in Novembers past. A list of Michigan's November records under Guevara:
| Year | Record |
| 2002-03 | 2-0 |
| 2001-02 | 4-1 |
| 2000-01 | 3-2 |
| 1999-2000 | 5-0 |
| 1998-99 | 4-1 |
| 1997-98 | 4-1 |
| 1996-97 | 5-0 |
First Appearance
Four Michigan freshmen made their first regular-season appearances in front of the Michigan fans in the win over Creighton. Mie Burlin and Niki Reams composed the Wolverines starting backcourt, while Lauren Andrews and Rachael Carney (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) saw significant minutes off the bench. Burlin scored two points, but led the Wolverines with five assists, while Reams notched eight points and four boards in her debut. Andrews came off the bench to score eight points in the final 12 minutes of the second half, including 6-9 from the free throw line.
Fresh Look
Sue Guevara started an all-freshman backcourt to open the season for the first time in her six-plus seasons at Michigan. Mie Burlin and Niki Reams started in the backcourt in both wins over Creighton and UCSB, representing the most Michigan freshmen to be in the starting lineup for the season opener since Guevara started Alayne Ingram (1999-2002), Ruth Kipping (1999-2001) and Raina Goodlow in the 1998-99 season-opening loss at Vanderbilt (57-45).
RECORD WATCH
Goodlow Climbs
Raina Goodlow collected eight points and two rebounds in the win over Creighton (Nov. 22), which was her first action since Nov. 29, 2001, having missed the final 25 games of last season due to a staph infection. Goodlow's eight points moved her into 20th place on Michigan's career scoring list with 845 career points. She surpassed current Michigan assistant coach Molly Murray (1995-98), who tallied 844 career points. Goodlow's two blocks also put her in a tie for ninth on the Wolverines' all-time list with 60. She is tied with Pollyanna Johns (1994-98). Goodlow added two points in the win over No. 24 UCSB on Monday (Nov. 25)
Assault on the Record Books
LeeAnn Bies will continue a climb to the top or near the top of the Michigan record books in several categories throughout her senior season. The 6-3 center, who was an All-Big Ten second-team selection by both the media and the coaches last season, is ninth on the Michigan career points scored list with 1,171 and is 476 points from tying Trish Andrew (1,647, 1989-93) for second on the list. Bies is 895 points shy of the Michigan record set by Diane Dietz (2,066, 1978-82). Already the Michigan career leader in free throws made, Bies stands sixth on the career list for rebounding with 661 career caroms and is 190 behind Stacey Thomas (851, 1996-2000) for second on that list. Andrew also holds that career mark with 928. Already third on the block list, Bies (110) is 10 shy of matching Patrice Donovan (118, 1980-82) for No. 2, but Andrew's school record of 367 is out of reach. Bies also entered the career steals list at Michigan late last season and stands No. 20 on that list with 108 career thefts.
1,000-Point Chase
While LeeAnn Bies became the 15th Michigan player to reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career last season, Raina Goodlow needs just 153 more points to become the 16th player to join that club. Goodlow averaged 264 points a season in her first three full seasons in the Maize and Blue.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Tough Non-Conference Slate
Wins over 2002 NCAA Tournament teams Creighton and UCSB provided an important opening week to a Michigan non-conference slate which has the potential for six games against 2002 NCAA Tournament teams -- Creighton, UC Santa Barbara, Colorado State, Florida, Oakland and Virginia. Michigan and Florida have a potential matchup in the championship game of the State Farm Classic on Dec. 29 in Gainesville, Fla.
Big Ten Slate
Instate rival Michigan State is back on the slate twice a year for the Wolverines after two straight seasons in which the schools faced each other just once. Also back on Michigan's schedule twice this season are Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, while the Wolverines face Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State and Purdue just once. Illinois and Iowa come to Crisler Arena while Michigan travels to Purdue and Ohio State for its only meetings of the season against those schools.
WOLVERINE Probables
Possible Starters Pos. No. Player Yr. Ht. PPG RPG F 1 Tabitha Pool So. 6-1 8.5 5.5 F 54 Jennifer Smith Jr. 6-4 15.5 8.0 C 44 LeeAnn Bies Sr. 6-3 12.0 8.5 G 42 Mie Burlin Fr. 5-11 1.0 4.0* G 24 Niki Reams Fr. 6-0 7.5 4.0 * assists per game
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
