Michigan
Central Michigan
Wolverines Post 83-71 Win over Central Michigan
12/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Freshman center LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) led four Wolverines in double figures with a career-high 19 points and added 11 rebounds in her first collegiate start. Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) chipped in 15 points.
The first half saw 13 lead changes and six ties between the Chippewas and Wolverines. Two staight baskets by Bies saw Michigan jump out to a 23-20 lead. A basket by Rochelle Germany helped CMU close the gap to one, 23-22 with 8:45 remaining.
The action continued back and forth with the teams exchanging baskets. CMU's jodi Culbertson hit a three to pull CMU within one, 37-36, with 50 seconds left. U-M answered with a layup by Ruth Kipping (Quincy, Ill./Quincy HS) to take a 39-36 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Wolverines started the second half on a 20-10 run, thanks in part to seven points by Bies. After a three-pointer by Ingram and a basket underneath by Alison Miller (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS), the Wolverines were up 61-48 with 11:58 remaining.
CMU's Molli Munz hit a three-pointer to pull the Chippewas within six, 65-59. However, U-M's Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) answered the call with a three-pointer to put the Wolverines up by nine, 68-59. Kipping hit a pair of free throws as Michigan extended its lead to 11 (70-59) with 7:16 remaining.
Central continued to hang tough, pulling within seven points on a Alicia Rozak bucket. Once again Michigan answered their call. A Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Bies put U-M up by a dozen (75-63) with 3:12 to go.
CMU closed the gap to eight, 77-69, with 1:19 to go, but solid free throw shooting by Michigan down the stretch helped the Wolverines post the 83-71 win.
Michigan (8-3) opens the Big Ten Conference season by playing host to archrival Michigan State University on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. at Crisler Arena.
N O T E S
Senior forward Stacey Thomas continues to inch closer to the Big Ten Conference all-time steals record. With three steals today, Thomas moved to 312 career thefts -- only 15 away from the record held by Wisconsin's Keisha Anderson (327, 1994-97).
Michigan's starting five against Central Michigan were senior Stacey Thomas, sophomore Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS), freshman LeeAnn Bies, freshman Infini Robinson (Detroit, Mich./Oak Park HS) and sophomore Alayne Ingram. It was the first career start for both Bies and Robinson.
Freshman center LeeAnn Bies finished with a career-high 19 points. Bies was 5-of-9 (.556) from the floor and 9-of-11 (.818) from the charity stripe. She also added two blocks and three steals.
Contact: Becky Olsen (734) 763-4423
