Weekly Release #8
12/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Opening Tip
The Wolverines conclude a difficult and hectic non-conference slate this week when the Wolverines travel to Detroit-Mercy on Sunday (Dec. 28, 2 p.m.) at Calihan Hall in the Maize and Blue's final tuneup before opening up Big Ten play on Jan. 1 (7 p.m. CST) at No. 9/8 Minnesota. The Wolverines will take four days off during the Christmas holiday before returning to practice on Friday (Dec. 26) in preparation for Sunday's matchup with instate rival Detroit. Michigan returned to an even 6-6 on the season with an impressive 65-56 win over Xavier on Dec. 21 behind a career-high 33 points from junior forward Tabitha Pool and now has the opportunity to get over a .500 and garner some momentum heading into Big Ten action.
What: Michigan at Detroit-Mercy (Sunday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m.)
Where: Detroit, Mich. (Calihan Hall/13,751)
Radio: WHNE-AM (1290)/MgoBlue.com
Television: none
IN THE PAINT
After a season-low seven point outing vs. Xavier (Dec. 21) in which she was held in single digits for the first time in 18 games dating back to last season, Jennifer Smith surrendered the top spot among the Big Ten's scoring leaders for the first time this season. Now at No. 2 in the conference in scoring (22.4 points) behind Penn State's Kelly Mazzante (23.1), Smith remains among the nation's top 10 scorers. Enjoying her best season as a Wolverine, Smith is on pace to score 650 points during the regular season, which would break the Michigan single-season scoring mark of 581 set by Peg Harte (1981-83) during the 1982-83 campaign.
Tabitha Pool may have given Michigan fans the breakout game they were looking for from the former Miss Basketball for the state of Michigan when Pool erupted for a career-best 33 points to go with 13 boards in a win over Xavier (Dec. 21). Pool, whose effort vs. Xavier led her second career Big Ten Player of the Week honor, sits at No. 3 in the league in rebounding with a team-best 7.9 average and joins Smith, who is sixth in the conference in rebounding (7.5), to give the Wolverines the only pair of players ranked among the league's top six on the glass.
While Jennifer Smith has averaged a nearly identical 22.5 vs. 22.3 points in Michigan's wins vs. losses, the keys to Wolverine success this season have been Tabitha Pool and Stephanie Gandy. Probably the Wolverines' two most athletic players, Pool and Gandy have combined for 27.5 points and 13.5 boards in the six victories while shooting a combined .447 (67-150) from the field, including 11-23 (.478) from behind the arc. In the six losses, however, the pair's averages dip to 20.2 points and 9.8 rebounds with a .384 (48-125) shooting mark.
Michigan's win over Xavier ran the Wolverines' record vs. 2003 NCAA Tournament teams to 4-2 this season. Tabitha Pool has taken her game to another level in those games, averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 boards, including all three of her double-doubles this season vs. Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Xavier.
The Opponent
Detroit (3-4): The Titans have dropped three of their last four, including a 64-40 home loss to Louisville on Saturday (Dec. 20) ... Lindsey Pasquizno is the only Titan averaging in double figures at 12.6 points with a team-best 12 trifectas ... Detroit is 0-2 this season at Calihan Hall ... Detroit-Mercy is coached by first-year head coach Mickey Barrett (Xavier, 2003) ... Detroit is averaging just 49.4 points as a team this season, but likewise is allowing only 57.0 ... Detroit faces Western Michigan on Monday (Dec. 22) before hosting the Wolverines on Sunday ... Detroit on the Internet: www.detroittitans.com ... Series: UDM leads, 11-6.
Michigan-Detroit a Third Time
Following a two-year hiatus, Michigan and Detroit renewed their women's basketball series two seasons ago with a 67-52 Wolverine victory at Calihan Hall. Michigan made it two straight a year with an 87-63 win at Crisler Arena behind a 29-point effort from Jennifer Smith, who led a Wolverine offense that shot .525 (32-61) from the field and dished out 21 assists. Tabitha Pool chipped in with a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards for her second straight strong showing against the Titans. Pool was just a freshman in Michigan's 67-52 win last time at Calihan Hall when she came off the bench to score 15 points -- all in the second half. In her two games against Detroit, Pool is averaging 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds and shooting .632 (12-19) from the field.
Michigan-Detroit Series
The Wolverines have won three straight overall in the series and have earned victories in six of the last 10 games with Detroit from 1982-2003 after the Titans took the first seven games in the series from 1978-81. The Wolverines are 3-5 all-time at Detroit.
Wolverines Look to Break Road Streak
The Wolverines will be looking for their first win away from Crisler Arena when they face Detroit. While Michigan has already begun to establish a home-court advantage early in the Cheryl Burnett era and has ridden that to a 5-1 mark, the Maize and Blue has struggled to a 1-5 mark away from Crisler Arena, including 0-4 on the road. The Wolverines have been more comfortable on the offensive end at home, collecting 82 assists in six home games (13.7) vs. just 40 in the four road games (10.0). Another indicator of Michigan's improved play at home is its 100 free throws made (16.7) vs. just 51 on the road (12.8).
Playing the Best Tough
Michigan's win over Xavier upped its mark against 2003 NCAA Tournament teams to 4-2 after its 65-56 win over the Musketeers on Sunday (Dec. 21). Xavier received an at-large bid out of the Atlantic 10 a year ago before falling 71-62 in first-round action to UC Santa Barbara. The Wolverines are 4-2 vs. 2003 NCAA Tournament teams thus far.
11/17 vs. Cincinnati (W, 73-69)
11/19 at No. 15 Rutgers (L, 50-65)
11/21 vs. Western Michigan (W, 66-53)
11/28 vs. No. 5 Texas Tech (L, 61-74)
12/3 vs. Charlotte (W, 72-65)
12/21 vs. Xavier (W, 65-56)
Climbing the RPI
After checking in last week at No. 91 in the WBCA/Summerville RPI ranking, Michigan's win over previously 6-2 Xavier vaulted the Maize and Blue up to No. 78 based primarily on a strength of schedule rating of 68th in the nation. Michigan is the only team with as many as six losses ranked among the top 105 teams nationally in the latest RPI.
Burnett's System Showing Signs
Michigan's difficult non-conference schedule as well as the regularity with which games have been occurring through the season's first month have made the process of implementing first-year head coach Cheryl Burnett's system a little slower than she may have liked. Burnett's system of full-court defensive pressure and an up-tempo offense that she used en route to two Final Fours at Southwest Missouri State have been taught in moderation to a young basketball team with only 10 healthy scholarship players for the 2003-04 season. The half-court defense has been steadily improving with the Wolverines allowing over 70 points in just four of the first 12 contests and holding Xavier to its second-lowest scoring output of the season in the 65-56 win. The Wolverines have improved their perimeter defense under Burnett and are ranked third in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents a mark of just .259 (41-158) from behind the arc.
Smith Maintains Torrid Start
At her current pace, not only would Jennifer Smith break the school's single-season scoring total, she would move all the way to second place on the Wolverine career scoring list. Smith is on pace to score 650 points during the regular season, which would give her 1,705 for her career and move her into second place on the all-time list behind Diane Dietz (1978-82), who totaled 2,066 points for her career.
Michigan's Career Scoring Leaders
| 1. | Diane Dietz (1978-82) | 2,066 |
| 2. | Trish Andrew (1989-93) | 1,647 |
| 3. | Wendy Bradetich (1982-86) | 1,587 |
| 4. | Stacey Thomas (1996-2000) | 1,556 |
| 5. | Abby Currier (1977-81) | 1,550 |
| 6. | Alayne Ingram (1998-2002) | 1,461 |
| 7. | LeeAnn Bies (1999-2003) | 1,450 |
| 8. | Jennifer Smith (2000-present) | 1,324 |
Point Taken
Sophomore point guard Lauren Andrews earned her first start of the season vs. Xavier and she responded with a team-best five assists while turning the ball over just twice in a season-high 33 minutes of action. Andrews, who started five games at point guard last season, replaced Sierra Hauser-Price in the starting lineup. Hauser-Price was one of only three Wolverines to start each of Michigan's first 11 games.
Bench Production
In the Wolverines' win over Xavier, the Michigan bench made its biggest contribution since outscoring Cincinnati's bench 25-17 in a win Nov. 17. Freshman Kelly Helvey once again proved to be one of Michigan's most active defenders with a team-high four steals in 18 minutes of action, while Mie Burlin came off the bench to log just six minutes in the second half, but made the most of that time with a pair of triples for six huge points. With Jennifer Smith's frustration mounting in the second half, junior post player BreAnne McPhilamy came off the bench to spell the leading scorer while providing two points and an assist in five minutes of work.
Michigan Back Even at 6-6
The Wolverines' recent three-game slide had been marred by slow starts, but the Wolverines did away with that notion while playing perhaps their most complete half of the season in jumping out to a 38-25 halftime lead over Xavier. Michigan shot a scorching .560 (14-25) while from the field in the first frame while limiting Xavier to a first-half mark of just .367 (11-30). The Maize and Blue stretched the lead to as much as 15 in the second frame and then held off a late Musketeer rally behind 33 points from Tabitha Pool en route to the 65-56 victory. Led by a 3-3 effort from behind the arc for Pool, the Wolverines connected for a season-best .625 (5-8) mark from three-point land.
PLAYER NOTES
Niki Reams grabbed three offensive boards vs. Xavier to move back into a tie for the team lead in offensive boards with Jennifer Smith. Both players have grabbed 27 caroms off the offensive glass this season. Reams also dropped three dishes in the win to up her team-leading assist total to 29. Reams is the only Wolverine with a positive assist-turnover ratio (1.2).
Michigan post players Jennifer Smith and Tabitha Pool are the only Wolverines to start all 12 games this season.
Although she has logged just the sixth-most minutes on the team through 12 games, freshman Kelly Helvey upped her team-leading total of steals to 19 after matching a career best with four thefts vs. Xavier.
Jennifer Smith and Tabitha Pool share the team lead with three double-doubles apiece.
Already the team's leading rebounder, Tabitha Pool now sets the pace for trifectas with 10 this season after drilling three vs. Xavier.
Mie Burlin has yet to attempt a conventional two-point field goal this season. The sophomore is 7-19 from behind the arc.
RECORD/MILESTONE WATCH
Stephanie Gandy's next game played will be the 100th of her career.
Sierra Hauser-Price's next rebound will be the 50th of her career.
Tabitha Pool is 17 points shy of becoming the 29th player in Michigan history to reach 700 career points. Pool is also two triples shy of reaching 50 for her career and one free throw away from 100 for her career.
Niki Reams is nine points away from reaching 300 career points.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Preseason WNIT
Michigan opened the Cheryl Burnett era with a bang, defeating Miami (Ohio) 79-68 on Nov. 15 and then earning a 73-69 victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 17 to advance to the Preseason WNIT semifinals in the Wolverines' initial tournament appearance. Michigan's bid for a title game appearance was thwarted by a 65-50 loss at then-No. 15 Rutgers on Nov. 21 in the semifinals. Stephanie Gandy led the way during Michigan's three-game run, averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Jennifer Smith totaled 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Wolverines.
Out of the Gate Quickly
Stephanie Gandy opened the season with back-to-back 23-point efforts in Preseason WNIT wins over Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati. Gandys consecutive outings of 20-plus points were the first of her career and helped land her on the Preseason WNIT All-Tournament team.
Smith Garners Weekly Honor
Jennifer Smith earned the first Big Ten Player of the Week honor for the 2003-04 season and the first of her career on Nov. 17 after compiling 24 points and eight rebounds while notching a career-best with 10 makes at the charity stripe. Smith also chipped in with a career-best four steals as Michigan opened up the Cheryl Burnett era with a 79-68 win over Miami (Ohio) in the Preseason WNIT first round.
Smith Puts on a Show
Jennifer Smith's career-high 32 points in the win over Western Michigan made her the first Wolverine to score more than 30 points in a game since LeeAnn Bies tallied 31 in a 75-64 loss at Xavier on Dec. 8, 2002.
Smith All-Tournament
Jennifer Smith netted her second career game of 30 or more points with a 30-point performance against then-No. 5 Texas Tech at the SMU Hoops for the Cure Classic on Nov. 28 in Dallas, Texas. She followed that up one night later with a 24-point effort in a win over Texas-Arlington to garner all-tournament recognition.
Busy Month
Michigan's 68-51 win over Texas-Arlington on Saturday, Nov. 29, concluded the busiest November in school history. The Wolverines went 4-3 in November, including a run to the semifinals of the Preseason WNIT, after having never before played more than five games in the season's opening month.
Smith Owns Charlotte
Jennifer Smith bettered her career-best 32-point performance vs. Western Michigan with a 37-point effort in Michigan's 72-65 win over Charlotte on Dec. 3. Smith's effort matched the second-best single-game performance in school history, which Diane Dietz (1978-82) accomplished on Jan. 31, 1980, vs. Grand Valley State. Dietz owns the Wolverine single-game record with 45 points on Feb. 27, 1982, vs. Illinois. Smith collected 12 rebounds in the win for the second of three double-doubles this season.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
