Michigan
6-12 (0-6)
Minnesota
12-4 (5-1)
Wolverines Drop Home Game to No. 16 Golden Gophers
1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team dropped an 85-57 decision to the No. 16 Minnesota Golden Gophers Thursday night (Jan. 19) at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (6-12, 0-6 Big Ten) shot well from the field, going 22-of-44 (.500), but 23 U-M turnovers created more offensive opportunities for the Golden Gophers (12-4, 5-1 Big Ten), who were equally as impressive from the floor at 54 percent (34-of-63).
Sophomores Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) and Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) led the Michigan effort with 12 points apiece, as Dierdorf connected on 6-of-8 from the field, in addition to posting a career-high four blocks. Cooper shot 4-of-11 from the floor while pulling down three rebounds in 35 minutes of action. Sophomore Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./J.W. Sexton HS) rounded out the top U-M performances with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting while dishing out three assists.
Dierdorf and freshman Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) combined for Michigan's first 10 points of the ballgame, leading the Wolverines to an early 10-8 advantage. Dierdorf got the ball rolling for the Wolverines with a turnaround layin at 19:14, followed by a Minnfield jumper. The duo traded baskets in the following minutes, before a another Dierdorf basket, her third field goal of night, gave Michigan the two-point lead with 14:28 remaining in the first half.
A bucket by freshman Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS) at 9:28 ended a five-minute U-M drought from the field, bringing the Wolverines to within five points at 19-14. It would take over three and a half minutes before the Maize and Blue found the scoring column again, while Dierdorf continued to create match-up problems for the Gophers in the post.
The Wolverines regained their stride late in the first half, as freshman Ashley Jones (Southfield, Mich./Martin Luther King HS) netted her first career three-point field goal with 1:40 remaining before half. Dierdorf added to her total the next trip down court, before a three-point field goal by Cooper sent Michigan into the locker room down 42-29 at the half.
Even though trailing at halftime, the Wolverines led the Gophers in field goal percentage as Michigan shot 61 percent from the field (11-of-18) compared to Minnesota's 56 percent (18-of-32). Dierdorf led the Wolverines in the first half by shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from floor for 10 points
Minnfield recorded two more points at 18:26 in the second half, but another scoreless streak followed, as the Minnesota lead increased to 55-35 with just under 14 minutes left to play. A pair of baskets by Walker and sophomore Krista Clement (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS) were not enough as the Gopher advantage ballooned to 32 points, 83-51, with 3:33 remaining in the game.
The Wolverines will return to action this Sunday (Jan. 21) when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to face Indiana. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Assembly Hall.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
