Michigan
13-9 (6-6)
Penn State
13-10 (4-7)
Michigan Responds in Home Win Over Penn State
2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Michigan 68, Penn State 53
Records: U-M (13-9, 6-6 Big Ten), Penn State(13-10, 4-7 Big Ten)
Next Game: Thursday, Feb. 14 -- at Northwestern (Evanston, Ill.), 7 p.m. CST
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery | Video Report
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing skid and picked up its ninth home win in 10 tries thanks to a crucial 68-53 victory over Penn State Thursday evening (Feb. 7)at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (13-9, 6-6 Big Ten) avenged a 68-57 road loss to the Lady Lions (13-10, 4-7 Big Ten) on Jan. 20 primarily due to a 19-0 run that began with 2:40 left in the first half and carried over into the first 3:44 of the second period.
Junior Carly Benson(Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) reached double figures in scoring for the fifth straight outing, finishing with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 39 minutes. Sophomore Krista Phillips(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate HS) posted 16 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes, while senior Janelle Cooper(Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) chipped in 12 points and five boards in 38 minutes. Junior Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) dished out a season-high eight assists in addition to recording seven points and five boards in 38 minutes.
The Lady Lions opened the game with a 7-0 run in the first 3:38 of action while Michigan misfired on its first five attempts from the field. Benson put U-M on the scoreboard with a triple from the corner at 16:05. The Wolverines scored six of their next 10 points from long range, courtesy of Cooper and senior Krista Clement(St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS), to stay within two points of the Penn State lead (15-13) with 13:13 left in the first half.
PSU responded with a 6-0 run to extend its lead to 21-13 at 9:42, while Benson scored four of U-M's next six points on a pair of strong left-handed moves to the hoop to trim the deficit to 23-19 with 5:51 to play until the break.
Benson added a three-pointer in transition and Minnfield knocked down four straight from the free throw line as Michigan used a 7-0 run in the final 2:40 of the first half to draw within one of the lead, 27-26, heading into the locker room.
Benson nearly accounted for half of U-M's 26 points in the first 20 minutes, as she finished with 12 on 5-of-9 shooting.
Clement's triple at 19:29 of the second half gave Michigan its first lead of the night and was the start of a 12-0 run that vaulted the Wolverines to a 38-27 lead with 16:16 left in the game. Benson notched two more buckets during the surge, and Cooper dropped in her second three-pointer of the game. Clement capped off the run by making a pretty feed in transition to Phillips for a lay-up.
Benson collected an offensive board and whipped a pass to Queen, who drove along the baseline and put two home as she was fouled at the 13-minute mark. The ensuing free throw put Michigan in front 45-32.
The Lady Lions clawed their way back to within four points, 47-43, with 10:27 to go thanks to an 11-2 run. The Wolverines kept their composure, however, and put together a 12-0 run to push their lead back up to 59-43 at 7:36. The stretch was highlighted by Minnfield's lone triple of the contest and a three-point play inside by Phillips. Clement also scored on a nice backdoor pass from Minnfield.
Michigan never let its lead dip below 12 points the rest of the way, and the Wolverines walked off the court with their second straight home win over Penn State.
The Wolverines have a week off before heading to Evanston, Ill., to face Northwestern on Thursday (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m. CSTat Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game can be heard live on radio station WLBY (AM 1290).
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
