Michigan
4-13, 0-6BigTen
Minnesota
15-3, 5-1BigTen
Gophers, McCarville Too Much for Wolverines on Road
1/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team fell to a ranked team for the fourth time in its last five games, dropping a 73-49 decision to 12th-ranked Minnesota tonight (Thursday, Jan. 20) at Williams Arena. The Wolverines were paced by 14 points from Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) and 11 points as well as a good all-around floor game from Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS). Minnesota jumped on the Wolverines early, bolting to a 26-9 lead that proved too much too overcome.
Minnesota (15-3, 5-1 Big Ten) jumped out to a 12-4 lead at the first media timeout after executing almost flawlessly on the offensive end, connecting on six of its first nine shots. Any early success the Wolverines experienced was through freshman post player Walker, who scored the first four Wolverine points. Walker finished the first half with six points while battling Gopher All-America center Janel McCarville, who finished the first frame with 12 points and seven boards on the way to a 25-point night.
Despite Walker's efforts, Minnesota continued to expand its lead, drilling three consecutive triples during a five-minute span midway through the first half. Minnesota's hot outside shooting pushed the lead to as much as 19 (31-12) with 6:39 left in the frame. During the 15-6 Gopher run, Michigan's only two hoops came on triples from freshman Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS), who led Michigan with nine tallies in the first half.
To Michigan's credit, the Wolverines bounced right back with great effort on both ends of the floor. Increased defensive intensity was keyed by Helvey, who collected three thefts in the first half and was a thorn in the side of Minnesota's perimeter players for much of the frame. That defensive effort set the stage for a 7-0 Wolverine run, which trimmed the deficit to 12 (31-19). Starling then provided her third trifecta of the game as the clock wound down for a 36-22 Michigan deficit heading into the locker room.
Any hope for a Michigan upset of the 12th-ranked Gophers was gone early in the second half, however, as Minnesota opened the second half with a 14-4 run for a 50-26 lead at the 12-minute mark and really took control of the game from that point.
Michigan pulled within 20 at 54-35 thanks to improved play from Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), who scored six early second-half points after being held to just one hoop in the first half. Helvey added a couple triples late to finish with 11 points, but Michigan could not overcome 20 turnovers and the Gophers' .529 shooting percentage.
The Wolverines (4-13, 0-6 Big Ten) will look to stop a nine-game losing streak when they return home to face Indiana on Sunday (Jan. 23) for a 2 p.m. tipoff in Crisler Arena.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
