Michigan
(4-3, 0-0)
Notre Dame
(6-1, 0-0)
Michigan Unable to Upset No. 22 Notre Dame
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Joyce Center)
Score: #22 Notre Dame 77, Michigan 46
Records: U-M (4-3), Notre Dame (5-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 8 -- vs. Kentucky (Crisler Arena), 6:06 p.m., Big Ten Network
Boxscore | Postgame Notes
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed out its six-game road stretch with a 77-46 loss to Notre Dame (No. 22 AP/No. 23 USA Today) Sunday afternoon (Dec. 2) in front of 10,825 fans at the Joyce Center. The Wolverines (4-3) had trouble breaking down the Fighting Irish defense for a majority of the contest, finishing the game shooting 27 percent from the field (12-of-44) while Notre Dame shot 53 percent (33-of-62) and held a 40-12 advantage in the paint.
Senior Janelle Cooper(Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) led the Maize and Blue with 11 points while matching career highs in both rebounds (eight) and steals (four) in 39 minutes. Sophomore Krista Phillips(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate HS) recorded nine points, eight rebounds and three assists before fouling out with 7:46 to go. Junior Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) contributed nine points, six rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes of action.
The Fighting Irish hit six of their first 10 field goal attempts, but the Wolverines were able to stay within striking distance thanks to the play of Cooper and Phillips. The duo combined to shoot 4-of-6 in the first 4:38 of the game, keeping the Notre Dame lead at 12-9.
A put-back by Phillips at 15:22 was Michigan's last field goal for 7:54, while the Irish found a rhythm and extended its lead to 23-10. Another offensive board and bucket from Phillips snapped the U-M scoring drought, but Notre Dame answered with six unanswered points to push the lead to 29-12 with 4:49 left in the first half.
The Irish defense limited Michigan to just one field goal in the remaining minutes of the half, but Notre Dame scored just four points of its own during that span to take a 33-18 advantage into the break.
The Wolverines shot 6-of-20 and committed 15 turnovers in the first half. Cooper and Phillips accounted for all but three of Michigan's 18 first-half points.
Notre Dame broke things wide open thanks to a 26-6 run in the first 9:49 of the second half, which pushed the lead to a game-high 35 points, 59-24. Although Michigan never drew closer than 26 the rest of the way, the five Wolverines on the court in the late stages of the game played strongly. U-M committed just four turnovers in the final 10 minutes while receiving solid efforts from Minnfield (nine points) and senior Ta'Shia Walker(Lansing, Mich./J.W. Sexton HS) (four points).
Michigan will host Kentucky Saturday (Dec. 8)at Crisler Arena. The game is scheduled for a 6:06 p.m. tip and will be televised by the Big Ten Network and broadcast by radio station WTKA (AM 1050).
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
