Michigan
UNLV
Helvey's Bucket Gives Wolverines Victory Over UNLV
12/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team held on for a 45-43 nail-biting victory over UNLV Monday night (Dec. 6) at Crisler Arena. Though the Wolverines led for the majority of the contest, it took late-game heroics from freshman Krista Clement (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS) and sophomore Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) to pull out the win in the final seconds.
| | Pool's career-high six steals helped Michigan match a season high with 10 thefts. |
With just two points separating the teams, UNLV point guard Sheena Moore drove the basket for a layup to tie the game at 43 with only 23 seconds remaining. Michigan, which has already lost two games this season in the last possesson, inbounded the ball to Clement, who dribbled the ball up the floor as the clock wound down. With under 10 seconds remaining and Clement still looking for something to develop, she kept her dribble alive long enough to find Helvey waiting under the net. Helvey put the ball up for a quick two to take back the Michigan lead (45-43) before the clock expired to secure the win.
Michigan (3-3) was able to establish an early lead thanks to Pool's defensive performance, as she came away with a career-best six steals, including five in the first half. The Wolverines built an early lead on defense, limiting the Lady Rebels to just 7-29 (24.1 percent) from the floor in the first half. The Lady Rebels' strong post play and large advantage on the offensive glass kept Michigan from taking a commanding lead, however, and the Wolverines held just a 15-12 lead at 9:20 in the first half.
The Maize and Blue established a rhythm midway through the first frame, going on an 8-0 run to take an 11-point lead. Freshman guard Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS) had two fast-break layups, taking assists from Clement and Pool. The Wolverines maintained their lead for the duration of the half, going into the locker room with a 28-18 advantage. Despite UNLV's poor shooting and Michigan's seven first-half steals, UNLV stayed within striking distance thanks to 10 offensive rebounds in the first half.
UNLV came out in the second half with a quick comeback to put the game within a possession. After the two teams traded field goals, the Lady Rebels rattled off eight straight points to trail Michigan by just two (30-28). Michigan responded with a five-point surge of its own to stay ahead by seven (35-28) with 13:37 remaining. Freshman forward Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) helped regain the momentum for the Wolverines, putting up three straight points.
Control of the game continued to see-saw as the contest really settled into a defensive battle with both teams coming up with big stops. After an eight-point run by the Lady Rebels handed them their only lead of the game (36-35), the Wolverines bounced back with seven straight. Freshman forward Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) helped the Wolverines on the defensive end and down low, grabbing a steal and taking it coast-to-coast to draw a foul. After making the first of two, Walker's second shot fell into the hands of Pool, who handed the ball back to Walker for a quick two points. The three-point trip seemed to regain control of the game for Michigan when a Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) jumper in transition off a nice feed from Helvey gave the Maize and Blue a 42-36 lead with 5:11 remaining.
That hoop, however, would be Michigan's final field goal until Helvey's layup with just six ticks left. Moore, UNLV's starting point guard who entered the game as the Lady Rebels leading scorer at 20.9 points, was held to just four points until scoring five of their last six points and forcing a tie with 23 seconds left.
In the end, it was two of Michigan's freshman guards playing vital roles as Becky Flippin (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS) ball-hawked Moore all night long and then Clement made the key pass on Helvey's game-winner.
Michigan plays its second of three at home this week on Wednesday (Dec. 8) against Eastern Michigan University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
