Michigan
3-4
Eastern Michigan
7-0
Wolverines Succumb to Eastern's Second-Half Surge
12/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team suffered its fourth loss of the season, a 69-60 setback to Eastern Michigan University, Wednesday night (Dec. 8) at Crisler Area. After an 8-0 run at the end the first haf gave Michigan its first lead of the game and a 25-23 halftime advantage, the Eagles used a 21-6 run midway through the second half to seal the victory.
| | Krista Clement set career highs with 12 points and four three-point field goals made. |
Eastern Michigan came out the blocks fast, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead with baskets by Ryan Coleman and Erika Ford. Walker answered back for the Wolverines with four points of her own, including two free throws, bringing the score to a 4-4 tie with 15:53 remaining in the first half.
Eastern Michigan responded by going on 6-0 run jump-started by two Ford baskets, making the score 10-4 with 13:52 left in the first period. Pool connected on a three from the wing, to bring the EMU lead to three, but two field goals by Sarah Vanmetre pushed the lead back to seven (14-7) with 9:21 left on the clock. EMU pretty much seized control of the first half at that point.
Michigan did make a couple runs, however, with the one at the end of half actually granting Michigan the 25-23 lead. The first run began with Walker connecting on a pair of free throws to end Michigan's four-minute scoreless streak. It ignited a 8-2 Wolverines run to cut the Eagles' lead to just one (16-15) with 4:21 to play in the first half. After the two Walker free throws cut the lead to five, freshman Becky Flippin (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS) connected on a deep three-pointer to make it a one-possession ballgame.
EMU answered the Wolverines' first challenge with a 7-2 surge, pushing its advantage back to six (23-17). Michigan's next run was its best of the game and was keyed by a pair of Clement triples. The first came at the 1:18 mark as Pool found Clement for her first basket of the game. Pool displayed her versatility by following up the assist with her own hoop. With only 25 seconds left in the half Clement connected from downtown again, sending the Wolverines into the locker room with a two-point advantage.
Despite being plagued with 13 first-half turnovers and 33 percent shooting from the field, Walker's nine points and Clement's long-range marksmanship helped Michigan to the two-point lead. The Wolverines also stayed in the game with their usual solid effort on the defensive end and outrebounding the Eagles 19-12.
Coming out of the locker room, the teams exchanged baskets until a Coleman three-pointer regained the lead for EMU at 35-33. Two more Eagle hoops ensued before Walker converted in the post at the 12:11 mark. That would be Michigan's final points for almost five minutes while EMU put together a decisive 11-0 run for a 50-39 lead.
Most of the scoring during EMU's surge came from Coleman, Nikki Knapp and Ryann Kilgore. The run was keyed by Michigan's struggles against the Eagles' 2-3 zone as Wolverine turnovers turned into transition hoops the other way. The Eagles' lead ballooned to as much as 17 (56-39) with 6:35 left.
Led by five straight points by Pool, the Wolverines never quit, managing to cut the lead to 10 (61-51) with just under two minutes play. U-M could not get any closer than nine, as each Michigan basket was matched with Eastern Michigan free throws until time expired.
The Wolverines will wrap up their three-game homestand against IUPUI Saturday (Dec 11) at Crisler Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
