Michigan
Iowa
Thomas' Career High Helps Michigan Knock Off Iowa
1/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A strong second-half performance by the University of Michigan women's basketball team helped propel the Wolverines to an 82-78 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 23) at Crisler Arena. After connecting on just 9-of-21 first-half shots, Michigan shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) in the second half in recording the victory.
After trailing 37-32 at halftime, the Wolverines came out and went on a 9-5 run to pull within one, 42-41, with 16:50 remaining. Sophomore forward Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) scored all six of her points during the Michigan run. U-M took its first lead since the 17:30 mark of the first half on a pair of Stacey Thomas (Flint, Mich./Southwestern Academy) free throws that made it 45-44.
A layup by sophomore forward Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) gave U-M its largest lead of the second half, 72-64, with just 6:11 remaining. Michigan closed out the game, converting on five of nine free throws to post the 82-78 victory.
Iowa (5-12, 2-6 Big Ten) jumped out to a 37-32 halftime lead, thanks in part to 10 first-half points by Cara Consuegra. It was the first time since Dec. 7 that Michigan trailed heading into halftime.
Michigan outshot Iowa, 48.1 percent to 36.4 percent for the game. U-M canned 29-of-39 free throw attempts (.744), including a 12-for-13 effort by freshman LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS).
Thomas led the Michigan attack with a career-high 32 points. She scored 22 of those points in the second half, including five straight points that helped U-M extend its lead to five, 60-55 with 10:29 to go.
Three other Wolverines scored in double figures in the victory -- Bies (18 points), Goodlow (11) and Anne Thorius (Horsholm, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) (10). Iowa was led by Consuegra, who posted 23 points, including an 11-for-11 effort from the charity stripe.
Michigan (13-5, 5-2 Big Ten) will travel to No. 4-ranked and Big Ten leader Penn State for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with the Nittany Lions on Thursday (Jan. 27).
N O T E S
Stacey Thomas set a new career high with 32 points. Thomas breaks her previous best of 28, set against Cincinnati on Dec. 6, 1998.
LeeAnn Bies posted her fourth double-double of season with 18 points and 10 boards.
Stacey Thomas and LeeAnn Bies tied the Crisler Arena record for free throws made in a game with 12.
Michigan made 29 free throws (out of 39 attempts), matching the second-best single-game effort in school history.
Sophomore guard Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) missed Sunday's game with an ankle sprain. She is listed as day-to-day.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Sue Guevara
On today's game ... "It was a game of the good, the bad, and the ugly. The ugly was the first half, the bad was the injury to Alayne Ingram, and the good was the second half. I thought in the second half, everyone did a good job. They had to start looking to the basket and they did."
On the difference between the first and second halves ... "I was very pleased with how the team reacted (after halftime). I threw out some challenges and they responded. I thought I knew what needed to be done and they responded."
On Stacey Thomas' and LeeAnn Bies' free throw shooting ... "The hardest thing to defend is the penetration and that is what Stacey (Thomas) is very good at and she gets to the free throw line. And (LeeAnn) Bies was being aggressive and going to the basket, and she can make free throws."
Freshman Center LeeAnn Bies
On producing off the bench ... "I think the times when I have big games are when I come in off the bench. I think I like to sit and watch and get a feel for the game and then go out and contribute. Every game I learn something new and this is giving me experience."
Senior Forward Stacey Thomas
On the change between the first and second halves ... "Coach (Sue Guevara) got us motivated. We knew we needed to perform and do what we have been practicing. We had to keep penetrating and finish the shots. We need to be consistent and give our best effort. Today we had huge people to step up and take some big shots and hit some key plays."
Iowa Head Coach Angie Lee
On the game ... "It was a hard loss for our kids. We played extremely hard and, for the most part, extremely well. We've been trying all year to find two good halves to a basketball game. Today was the first time that we probably played a good 35 minutes of this game. I felt good about the way we played in the post. I was also very proud of our inside game."
Contact: Becky Olsen (734) 763-4423
