Michigan
2-2
Vanderbilt
3-1
Michigan Rolls to Upset Win Over No. 13 Vanderbilt
11/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Result: Michigan 50, #13 Vanderbilt 42
Records: U-M (2-2), Vanderbilt (4-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 28 -- vs. Belmont - Southern Mississippi Thanksgiving Tournament (Hattiesburg, Miss.), 7 p.m. CST
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Led by 14 points from senior guard Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), the University of Michigan women's basketball team knocked off Vanderbilt (No. 13 AP, No. 12 ESPN/USA Today), 50-42, on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 23) at Crisler Arena. The victory was the first for U-M over a ranked opponent since Feb. 29, 2004, when it defeated No. 12 Minnesota, 57-47. U-M also held Vanderbilt under 45 points to mark the first time in theirprogram history that the Commodores have scored fewer than 45 points.
Senior forward Carly Benson(Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Maize and Blue, while senior forward Stephany Skrba(Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) scored eight points and had a career-high five steals.
Vanderbilt opened the contest with a 7-2 run before the Wolverines answered with a 7-2 run of their own. Benson tied the contest with a layup off a feed from junior center Krista Phillips(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate) at 11:30. After a pair of buckets by the Commodores, senior forward Melinda Queen(Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandberg) ignited a 12-2 run with a basket at the 7:27 mark. A layup by Skbra gave Michigan its largest lead of the half, 21-15, a lead the Wolverines took into the break.
The 15 first-half points was the lowest first-half output for Vanderbilt since Jan. 17, 2008, when it scored 10 in the first half in a contest at LSU.
Benson led all scorers with 10 in the first 20 minutes; she also had a game-high five rebounds.
The Wolverines continued their run out of the break, scoring the first four points of the second half. Skrba and sophomore guard Veronica Hicks(Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) scored to push the U-M lead to double-digits, 25-15. The Commodores cut the Michigan lead to five, 29-24, but Minnfield responded for the Maize and Blue with a three to push the advantage back to eight, 32-24.
U-M took its largest lead of the night, 40-28, on a pair of free throws by Minnfield with 6:29 remaining.
Vanderbilt then went on a 12-4 run, cutting the Michigan lead to just four, 44-40. However, Vanderbilt scored just two points in the final 2:30 of the contest and U-M made six-of-eight free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Vanderbilt was led by Hannah Tuomi, who scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Jessica Mooney added nine points for the Commodores.
The Maize and Blue returns to action on Friday, Nov. 28, when it takes on Belmont in the Southern Mississippi Thanksgiving Tournament in Hattiesburg, Miss. Game time between the Wolverines and Bruins is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
