Michigan
Washington
Michigan Has Modest Win Streak Halted at Washington
12/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE, Wash. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 82-60 loss to Washington Friday night (Dec. 9) at Bank of America Arena. In a highly aggressive and physical game, the Wolverines (4-5) were plagued by 24 turnovers while losing the battle on the offensive glass to the Huskies (6-2), 22-13. Michigan's biggest blow was not on the stat sheet, however, as junior Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) went down with a leg injury at 16:01 of the first half and was lost for the remainder of the contest.
Sophomore Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./J.W. Sexton HS) led the Michigan effort with game-high totals of 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) collected 13 points, including a career-high 3-of-5 from behind the arc, in addition to four rebounds. Freshman Stephany Skrba (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) chipped in 11 points and six boards, while freshman Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) scored five points and pulled down a career-best seven rebounds.
Walker scored nine of Michigan's first 13 points of the ballgame, including back-to-back triples from the left wing, as the Wolverines built a 13-9 advantage with 13:09 left in the first half. Michigan was able to clamp down on defense, allowing the Huskies just 4-of-12 shooting in the first seven minutes of the game.
After Washington reeled off eight unanswered points to claim a 17-13 lead, Skrba came off the bench and hit her first three shots to keep U-M in striking distance. With the Huskies holding a 19-17 edge with 7:56 remaining until the break, Cameo Hicks scored seven points during a 10-2 UW run to increase the lead to 29-19 with 3:18 left until halftime. Washington built on its lead by canning three triples in the final 3:18, and went into the locker room with a 37-23 cushion.
Michigan finished the first half shooting just 33 percent (8-of-24) from the field. The Huskies' hot shooting in the late stages of the half resulted in 48 percent (15-of-31) shooting.
The Wolverines came out of the break and hit seven of their first eight shots in the second half, led by four straight points by Walker and a pair of triples from Cooper. Washington, however, scored three of its first seven buckets of the second half from long range to sustain a 54-42 lead with 11:39 left in the game.
Michigan scored just seven points over a six-minute span, including another three-pointer by Cooper, while the Huskies continued to find their rhythm and increased the lead to 70-49 with 5:47 left in the game. U-M was unable to cut the deficit below 20 points, and Washington ran away with its eighth straight home victory dating back to last season.
The Wolverines return home to Crisler Arena to host Fordham on Tuesday (Dec. 13). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised by Comcast Local.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
