Michigan
Louisiana Tech
Wolverines Fall to No. 3-Ranked Louisiana Tech
12/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
It wasn't an easy victory for the Lady Techsters as Michigan put up quite a fight and pushed Tech to the bitter end. Tech jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on quick baskets by Ayana Walker and Betty Lennox. U-M countered with a basket underneath by Alison Miller (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) and a pair of free throws by Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) to tie the score at 4-4. The Wolverines continued to hang touch as Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) countered with a jumper to tie the score at 6-6 with 16:19 remaining.
With 11:30 remaining in the first half, Louisiana Tech held a slim 13-12 lead as Michigan's post players started to get into foul trouble. Ruth Kipping (Quincy, Ill./Quincy HS) was on the bench with three, Miller with two and Goodlow with one. The Wolverines picked up a boost from senior forward Kenisha Walker (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston HS) to help their cause.
A quick pass from Thomas down the floor to Kenisha Walker saw U-M tie the game at 21. A Thomas jumper followed by a three-pointer 27 seconds later saw U-M jump out to a 26-21 lead. A steal and lay-up by Kenisha Walker helped the Wolverines extend the lead, 28-21 with 5:30 to go.
Michigan continued to add to its first-half lead, going up by 10 (36-26) on an Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) bucket with 2:16 to go. Tech would not go down without a fight. Brooke Lassiter hit a three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to help the Lady Techsters head into the locker room trailing 39-36.
Michigan was on fire in the first half, shooting 59.3 percent (16-of-27). The defense frustrated Tech's shooters, holding them to just 36.1 percent shooting (13-of-36).
Louisiana Tech came out of the locker room to start the second half on fire. Six quick points by three different players helped Tech close the gap to one, 43-42, with 17:14 to play. After a Michigan turnover, Shaka Massey hit a basket underneath to helped Tech take a 44-43 lead. It was Tech's first lead since the 7:11 mark of the first half. U-M countered with a Goodlow three to jump back in front 46-44.
The Wolverines extended their lead to eight, 52-44, on a pair of free throws by Thorius. Tech countered with a bucket by freshman Catrina Frierson and a pair of free throws by Frierson to pull within four, 52-48.
Louisiana Tech started to make a run, after two straight Michigan turnovers. A basket by Ayana Walker and a steal off the inbound pass which led to a quick basket by Tamicha Jackson helped Tech tie the game at 52-52 with 12:27 remaining.
A three-point play by Frierson gave Tech a 55-52 edge and it was a lead that the Lady Techsters would never relinquish. Tech opened up an eight-point lead, 62-54, with 9:29 to play.
Michigan could just not get the ball inside in the second half, while Tech's freshman forward Frierson scored 16 second-half points. Louisiana Tech continued to bring the ball inside and add to its lead, taking a 21-point lead (84-63) with 1:06 to go.
The Wolverines were led by Thomas with 20 points and seven boards. Goodlow contributed a season-best 16 points, on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
Five Techsters scored in double figures, led by Lennox and Frierson with 18 points each. Also scoring in double figures were Jackson (16 points), Lassiter (13) and Massey (11).
Michigan (7-3 overall) closes out its non-conference schedule by traveling to Central Michigan this Sunday (Dec. 19) for a 2 p.m. tipoff with the Chippewas.
N O T E S
With 20 points, senior guard Stacey Thomas moved into sixth place on U-M's all-time scoring chart with 1,263 points. Thomas surpasses Pollyanna Johns (1994-98), who previously held down sixth place with 1,251 points.
Stacey Thomas continues to inch closer to the Big Ten Conference all-time steals record. With one steal today, Thomas moved to 309 career thefts -- only 18 away from the Wisconsin's Keisha Anderson (327, 1994-97) record.
Sophomore forward Raina Goodlow scored a season-high 16 points in the loss. Goodlow was 6-of-8 (.750) from the floor, including 1-for-1 from three-point land, and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. Goodlow also added four boards and two steals, playing a season-high 35 minutes.
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Sue Guevara
On tonight's game ... "I thought the difference in the second half was the turnovers and offensive rebounds. We played well the first half, but La. Tech's bench did a great job in the second half.
"We had to prepare mentally for this game. We had a tough practice yesterday and really thought that we competed today. This team played hard for 40 minutes. We just need to be more consistent."
Contact: Becky Olsen (734) 763-4423
