Weekly Release #12

Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, Jan. 30 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 1:30 p.m. CST
Thursday, Feb. 6 -- vs. Iowa (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 9 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 2 p.m. CST

Complete Release in PDF (27 pages, 296 KB)    

Michigan (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten) at Michigan State (11-7, 4-3 Big Ten)
When	Thursday, Jan. 30 (8 p.m.)
Site	East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center/14,759)
Television/Internet	Fox Sports Detroit/none
Radio/Internet	WSDS AM-1480/MGoBlue.com
Series Record	Michigan State leads, 39-14
Last Meeting	Michigan, 58-45 (1/2/02 in Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Coaches	Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982)   Overall: 121-72 (7th season); at U-M: same Michigan State -- Joanne P. McCallie (Northwestern, 1987)   Overall: 207-121 (11th season); School: 40-38 (3rd season)

Michigan (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (4-14, 2-5 Big Ten)
When	Sunday, Feb. 2 (5 p.m.)
Site	Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center/17,142)
Television/Internet	none/none
Radio/Internet	none locally/MGoBlue.com will provide a link to Wisconsin's broadcast
Series Record	Wisconsin leads, 27-14
Last Meeting	Michigan, 63-59 (2/21/02 in Evanston, Ill.)
Coaches	Michigan -- Sue Guevara (Saginaw Valley, 1982)   Overall: 121-72 (7th season); at U-M: same Wisconsin -- Jane Albright (Appalachian State, 1977)   Overall: 346-210 (19th season); School: 156-100 (9th season)

IN THE PAINT
Despite a 2-4 start to the Big Ten campaign, Michigan is ranked 30th in the most recent RPI thanks in large part to a schedule that is ranked the 26th toughest in the country. Michigan is one of six Big Ten teams among the RPI's top 30.

Junior center Jennifer Smith continues her comeback from a knee injury that sidelined her for five games earlier this season. Smith has scored in double figures in all five games since re-entering the starting lineup vs. Illinois on Jan. 5. During those five games Smith leads Michigan in scoring (12.4) and is second in rebounding (6.6). The Wolverines are 6-3 with Smith in the starting lineup.

Freshman point guard Rachael Carney, who made her first career start at Purdue (Jan. 12), has started four straight games. Carney matched a career-best with five assists while adding her first career trifecta vs. Penn State on Sunday (Jan. 26). Carney is averaging a team-best 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals in the last four games.

Michigan has done a better job of taking care of the basketball in its last two games, committing just 15 turnovers in each of the last two games after turning it over 20 or more times in the previous four. Michigan dished out 16 assists vs. Penn State, which matched its third-best total of the season and it was the first time Michigan had a positive assist-turnover ratio (16-15) since a win over Colorado State on Dec. 21.

Sophomore Tabitha Pool continues to lead Michigan in rebounding (7.4) and is sixth in the Big Ten in that category. Pool's team-best 94 defensive rebounds pace the Wolverines, who are the third-best team in the Big Ten on the defensive glass (25.12).

Sue Guevara is 7-3 against Michigan State after spending eight seasons in East Lansing as an assistant coach (1987-95) and one season as an associate head coach (1995-96).

Opening Tip
The University of Michigan women's basketball team goes back on the road for a pair of conference tilts this week beginning with trip to East Lansing, Mich., on Thursday (Jan. 30, 8 p.m.) to face Michigan State (11-7, 4-3 Big Ten) at the Breslin Center. It is the first of two matchups with the Spartans after two seasons of facing each other just once. Michigan hosts Michigan State on Feb. 16 (2 p.m.). Michigan closes out the week with a contest against Wisconsin (4-14, 2-5 Big Ten) on Sunday (Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m. CST) at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

On the Tube
The game at Michigan State on Thursday will be the second of Michigan's three regular-season regional television appearances. The contest will be aired on both Fox Sports Net Chicago and Detroit as part of the Big Ten Game of the Week package. The Wolverines' one earlier appearance on both of those stations came against Illinois on Jan. 5. Michigan's final regular-season television appearance is a regional broadcast of its home contest against Michigan State (Feb. 16, 2 p.m.) on ESPN2. Fox Sports Net Chicago and Detroit are also airing all the Big Ten Tournament (March 6-10) games through the semifinals. ESPN is set to air the championship game tape delayed (March 10, 9 p.m.).

Over the Radio
The Michigan-Michigan State game can also be heard live on WSDS (AM-1480) out of Ypsilanti, Mich. It is the second of five regular-season Michigan games the station will carry this season with Doug Karsch providing the play-by-play. WSDS is also airing Michigan road tilts at Northwestern (Feb. 9, 2 p.m. CST), at Indiana (Feb. 23, 2 p.m.) and at Ohio State (Feb. 27, 7 p.m.).

The Opponents
Michigan State (11-7, 4-3 Big Ten): The Spartans have won two straight and four of five after opening the Big Ten 1-2. Freshman Liz Shimek leads the Big Ten in rebounding (9.7) and is scoring 11.1 points. Four Spartans are averaging in double figures, led Syreeta Bromfield (15.3). Michigan State leads the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+10.9) and offensive rebounding (15.06). Michigan State on the Internet: www.msuspartans.com
Series: Michigan State leads, 39-14

Wisconsin (4-14, 2-5 Big Ten): After an 0-4 start to the Big Ten season the Badgers have won two of their last three conference games, including a 69-59 win over Illinois. Sophomore guard Stephanie Rich is the only Badger averaging in double figures (11.0). Wisconsin is last in the Big Ten in turnover margin (-6.61). Wisconsin is at Northwestern on Thursday (Jan. 30) before hosting the Wolverines on Sunday. Wisconsin on the Internet: www.uwbadgers.com

Michigan-Michigan State, Last Season
The Wolverines and Spartans met just one time last season, with Michigan gaining a 58-45 win on Jan. 2, 2002, in front of a season-high crowd of 4,558 at Crisler Arena. Michigan's defense held the Spartans to .302 (19-63) from the field, while Wolverine post players LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) and Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) totaled double-doubles. Bies led with 17 points and 11 boards while Smith added 11 boards to go with 14 points.

Michigan-Michigan State Series
The Wolverines have won four straight against the Spartans and seven of the last 10 since Sue Guevara took over the Michigan program prior to the 1996-97 season. Michigan has won its last two trips to the Breslin Center, including a 58-49 comeback victory on Jan. 25, 2001, behind a 16-point, 11-rebound performance from LeeAnn Bies. Michigan's last loss to Michigan State was a 69-68 decision in the second round of the 1999 WNIT (March 14) at Crisler Arena. Michigan State leads the all-time series 39-14. The following is a game-by-game breakdown of the series during Guevara's tenure at Michigan:

Date	W/L	Score	H/A
1/19/97	L	76-67	A
11/22/97	W	89-72	A
1/18/98	W	81-65	H
1/20/99	W (OT)	76-75	H
2/14/99	L	70-56	A
3/14/99	L	69-68	H
12/30/99	W	64-61	H
2/20/2000	W (2OT)	90-87	A
1/25/01	W	58-49	A
1/2/02	W	58-45	H

Michigan-Wisconsin, Last Season
Like Michigan State, the Wolverines only faced Wisconsin one time last season, dropping an 89-74 decision on Jan. 6, 2002, at the Kohl Center. LeeAnn Bies' 27-point, 13-rebound effort could not overcome Wisconsin's 11 triples as the Badgers put the game away with a 52-point second half. Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) and Jennifer Smith added 13 and 14 points, respectively.

Michigan-Wisconsin Series
Michigan has dropped two straight to Wisconsin and has not beaten the Badgers since LeeAnn Bies dropped in 14 points as a freshman in a 78-73 Wolverine victory on Feb. 17, 2000, at Crisler Arena. That victory along with a 79-70 win at the 1998 Big Ten Tournament are Michigan's only wins over the Badgers in its last 20 attempts. The Wolverines have never won at the Kohl Center and have not beaten Wisconsin in Madison since earning a 90-69 victory on Feb. 16, 1990.

More Spartan Connections
Michigan associate head coach Angela Jackson is also a former Michigan State assistant. Jackson joined Sue Guevara on former Michigan State head coach Karen Langeland's staff for three seasons from 1993-96. After Guevara left for Michigan following the 1995-96 season, Jackson remained on the Spartan staff for four more seasons before taking over as head coach at Saginaw Valley State for the 2000-01 season. Jackson became Michigan's associate head coach prior to the 2001-02 campaign.

Bies vs. the Spartans
LeeAnn Bies received a rude baptism into the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry in her first career appearance against the Spartans. Bies started in the pivot but was held to zero points and three rebounds in a 64-61 Wolverine win at Crisler Arena on Dec. 30, 1999. Since that game, however, Bies has reversed that trend against Michigan's instate rival, averaging 19.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in the three meetings since. Bies tallied a Michigan-best 24 points in a 90-87 double overtime win over Michigan State in their second meeting during her freshman campaign. The preseason All-Big Ten selection has double-doubles in each of Michigan's last two victories over Michigan State. Bies last three point-rebound totals vs. Michigan State:

Date	Points-Rebounds
2/20/2000	24-7
1/25/01	16-11
1/2/02	17-11

Polls
After not receiving any votes in the Jan. 20 Associated Press poll, the Wolverines are getting three votes this week (Jan. 27) following a 1-1 week that included a near-upset of No. 13 Penn State. Michigan remained in the also receiving votes category of the latest coaches' poll last week (Jan. 21).

Games Key to Big Ten Race
Michigan enters action this week tied for seventh place in the Big Ten with Iowa at 2-4, and the Wolverines find themselves 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State, which are all tied for fourth in the conference at 4-3. Wisconsin is only a half-game back of the Wolverines, entering this week's action at 2-5.

Bies Hitting the Glass
After collecting eight or more rebounds just twice in Michigan's first 14 games this season, LeeAnn Bies has grabbed eight boards twice in the Wolverines' last three outings. Bies coralled eight caroms to go with 19 points in a win over Indiana (Jan. 19) and then grabbed eight again, including a season-best matching four off the offensive glass, against Penn State (Jan. 26).

Another Tourney Team on the Slate
Wisconsin represents the 10th Michigan opponent in its first 19 games that earned a berth to the 2002 NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines are now 5-4 against those teams.

Date	Opponent	Outcome	Score
11/22	Creighton	W	75-66
11/25	UC Santa Barbara	W	70-64
12/10	at Oakland	W	96-65
12/21	Colorado State	W	83-72
12/28	vs. Virginia	L	64-78
1/2	at Minnesota	L	70-98
1/12	at Purdue	L	52-69
1/19	Indiana	W	71-68
1/26	Penn State	L	70-72

RECORD WATCH
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-forward, who was an All-Big Ten second-team selection by both the media and the coaches last season, is seventh on the Michigan career points scored list with 1,350 and is 297 points from tying Trish Andrew (1,647, 1989-93) for second on the list. The Michigan career leader for points scored is Diane Dietz (2,066, 1978-82). Already the Michigan career leader in free throws made (459), Bies stands sixth on the career list for rebounding with 735 career caroms and is 116 behind Stacey Thomas (851, 1996-2000) for second on that list. Andrew also holds that career mark with 928. Already second on the blocks list, Bies (124) is 243 behind Andrew's school record of 367. Bies also entered the career steals list at Michigan late last season and stands No. 15 on that list with 127 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 64 more points in the regular season to become the 16th player to join that club.

Milestones Approaching
Raina Goodlow now has 70 career blocks and is one block shy of tying Yvette Harris for seventh on the career list.
Stephanie Gandy is one point shy of becoming the 25th player in Michigan history to reach 750 career points.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Conference Honors
Tabitha Pool won the first Big Ten Player of the Week honor of her career on Dec. 23 and first for a Wolverine since LeeAnn Bies was awarded the honor on Dec. 10, 2001. Pool netted a career and game-best 24 points to go with 10 rebounds in Michigan's 83-72 win over Colorado State on Dec. 21.

Consistent Scoring
Tabitha Pool owned a team-best 10 straight games scoring in double figures from Nov. 25 vs. UC Santa Barbara through Dec. 29 vs. Massachusetts.

Michigan vs. Ranked Teams
The Wolverines defeated then-No. 24 UC Santa Barbara 70-64 on Nov. 25 at Crisler Arena. Michigan has 17 all-time wins over ranked opponents, with 15 of those wins coming during the Sue Guevara era. Guevara is 15-21 vs. ranked opponents in her six-plus seasons at Michigan. 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

Tournament Honors
Tabitha Pool was the lone Wolverine named to the State Farm Classic all-tournament team (Dec. 28-29). In Michigan's two games a 78-64 loss to Virginia (Dec. 28) and a 64-61 win over UMass (Dec. 29) Pool averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Tournament Honors II
Aided by a Michigan season-high 31-point performance against Xavier (Dec. 8), LeeAnn Bies was named to the Provident Bank Xavier Invitational all-tournament team (Dec. 7-8). Bies averaged 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in a 61-56 win over Saint Louis (Dec. 7) and a 75-64 loss to Xavier. 

Bies Shines in Loss
Michigan's first loss this season came despite one of the best individual performances of the season by a Wolverine in the 75-64 loss at Xavier (Dec. 8). LeeAnn Bies connected for a Michigan season-best 31 points on 12-16 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for her 20th career double-double. Bies' 31 points are the second-best single-game total of her career behind a 36-point effort at Illinois on Jan. 27, 2002.

WOLVERINE Probables

STARTERS

Pos.	No.	Player	Yr.	Ht	PPG	RPG
F	1	Tabitha Pool	So.	6-1	12.4	7.4
F	32	Raina Goodlow	Sr.	6-2	5.7	3.0
C	54	Jennifer Smith	Jr.	6-4	13.4	6.1
G	33	Stephanie Gandy	Jr.	5-10	12.3	5.2
G	22	Rachael Carney	Fr.	5-9	1.0	1.7*
BENCH
F	44	LeeAnn Bies	Sr.	6-3	11.9	5.4
G	11	Lauren Andrews	Fr.	5-9	4.6	1.9*
G	24	Niki Reams	Fr.	6-0	7.5	2.9
F	20	Sierra Hauser-Price	So.	5-7	4.2	0.9*
* assists per game