Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Rally Falls Short in Loss at Wisconsin
1/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Site:Â Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)
Score:Â Wisconsin 71, Michigan 65
Records:Â U-M (9-5, 1-3 Big Ten), Wisconsin (8-8, 3-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Game:Â Sunday, Jan. 17 -- vs. Penn State (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.
MADISON, Wis. -- The good news going into Friday's (Jan. 15) women's basketball game between the University of Michigan and Wisconsin was that one team's three-game losing streak would come to an end. The bad news for the Wolverines following the game was that their streak was still alive after the Badgers held on for a 71-65 victory, keeping Michigan winless in 1999. The Wolverines fell to 9-5 overall and 1-3 in Big Ten Conference play, while Wisconsin improved to 8-8 and 3-4.
The Badgers led 34-32 at halftime after a first half that saw five lead changes and four ties, and the game remained close for the first four minutes of the second half. With Wisconsin up 40-39, the Badgers went on a 15-2 run, including five points from freshman guard Tamara Moore, to assume their biggest lead of the game, 54-41 with 12:39 to play.
Following a timeout, the Wolverines reeled off 11 unanswered points and slashed the lead to 54-52 on freshman Alayne Ingram's (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) three-point basket with just under nine minutes remaining. Freshman Ruth Kipping (Quincy, Ill./Quincy HS) added four points, two rebounds and a steal during the run.
The teams exchanged baskets over the next five minutes, with Michigan closing to within one (64-63) with three minutes left. But the Wolverines made just 1-of-6 field goal attempts in the closing minutes, and Wisconsin outscored Michigan 7-2 to secure the win.
Kipping finished with a career-high 15 points, connecting on 6-of-8 from the floor and snagging three steals and five rebounds. Junior Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) registered her fourth straight double-double with 11 points and a team-leading 12 rebounds, surpassing the 500-rebound mark for her career. She also posted three steals to move into third place on U-M's career steals list with 215.
Ingram contributed 13 points -- her first double-digit outing in six games -- and sophomore Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) scored 12 points and handed out five assists.
Wisconsin's LaTonya Sims led all scorers with 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Jessi Stomski scored 18 points and pulled down a game-high 14 boards.
The Wolverines will look to end their losing streak on Sunday, Jan. 17, when they host 20th-ranked Penn State at 2 p.m. in Crisler Arena.
NOTES
• Stacey Thomas' team-high 12 rebounds pushed her career total to 505, making her the 12th Wolverine to reach 500 career boards. Her 11 points upped her career scoring total to 895, putting her five points away from becoming the ninth U-M player in the 900-point, 500-rebound club.
• Michigan's four-game losing streak is its longest under third-year coach Sue Guevara and longest since 1995-96, when the Wolverines dropped their last nine outings.
