Michigan
5-19 (1-12)
Purdue
14-10 (7-6)
Walker's 18 Points Not Enough in Loss to Boilermakers
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team dropped a 63-43 decision to the Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday (Feb. 17) at Crisler Arena. Michigan (5-18, 1-12 Big Ten) again displayed aggressive defense but could not get the shots to fall on the offensive end. Though U-M out-rebounded the Boilermakers for the second time this season (36-35), Purdue (14-10, 7-6 Big Ten) outscored the Wolverines 39-27 in the second half to pull away for victory.
Freshman Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) led the Wolverines with 18 points and four rebounds, while senior Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) added 11 points and eight boards. The Wolverines grabbed 14 offensive boards, their most since Dec. 11, but struggled finishing around the basket and shot just 2-17 (11.8 percent) from behind the arc.
Michigan opened the game with hard work defensively. Sophomore Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) set the tone early for the Wolverines with a blocked shot just 13 seconds in. Her hard work along with strong team passing led to some good looks, but the Wolverines were unable to make them fall. Freshman Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) continued the Wolverines' hard work with one of her two offensive rebounds that led to Michigan's first points of the game on a shot by Pool.
Purdue followed Pool's opening basket with a 10-0 run to put the score at 10-2. Pool ended the run with a successful bucket at 12:33. Michigan got back into the game with two more buckets using quick ball movement on the offensive end to create open paths to the basket. As the Boilermakers began to once again hit their shots, Walker went on a scoring spree of her own, scoring eight straight points for the Wolverines. Cooper's rebounding and Helvey's defense helped pave the way for Walker.
Michigan outrebounded the bigger Boilermakers 20-12 in the first half and played with great purpose on the defensive end to keep the game tight, but 14 first-half turnovers kept the Wolverines from possibly taking a lead into the locker rooom. Purdue finished the half on a 6-2 run for a 24-16 lead.
Michigan came out aggressively on defense once again with a Pool block to open up the second half. However, the Wolverines could not take advantage of solid defensive play. Becky Flippin's (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS) superb passing coupled with a timely rebound early in the half paced the Wolverines to keep the score close. Michigan stayed within single digits on BreAnne McPhilamy's (Portage, Mich./Northern HS) first basket of the game, but Purdue's outside shooting finally heated up. Purdue sophomore guard/forward Katie Geralds scored eight straight of her game-high 23 points, giving the Boilermakers a 36-19 lead with 14:13 left.
Purdue pushed its lead to as much as 21 (45-24) before Michigan made its best surge of the game. Michigan took off on a 14-4 run, fueled by Walker and McPhilamy, who combined for eight points during the rally. The run closed on a triple from Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS) and on off-ball foul call on the Boilermakers. Flippin split the free throws to cut the deficit to 11 (49-38) at the 4:35 mark. That was as close as the Wolverines would get, however. The Maize and Blue once again pressed until the end of the game and traded buckets down the stretch, but Purdue executed against the press and pulled away for a 63-43 win.
Next for the Wolverines is the final home game of the season as Michigan hosts Iowa and honors Pool and McPhilamy for Senior Night on Saturday (Feb. 19, 7 p.m.) at Crisler Arena.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
