Michigan
Marquette
Michigan Dumps Marquette to Open Home Schedule
11/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team (No. 16 AP, No. 17 USA Today/ESPN) ran its win streak to four games as it opened its 2001-02 home campaign with a 65-49 victory over Marquette on Thursday (Nov. 29) in front of 1,136 fans at Crisler Arena. Four Wolverines scored in double figures, led by 15 points by senior forward Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) and LeeAnn Bies' (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Both teams struggled in the first half from the floor, with the Wolverines shooting just .393 (11-28) and Marquette coming in at .290 (9-31). Neither team led by more than four points as the score was tied six times and the lead changed hands on four occasions before the Wolverines gained a 25-21 advantage with 2:10 remaining in the first frame. Michigan assumed its four-point advantage on a jumper by Goodlow, which gave her eight points at the break.
Although only 1-6 from the floor in the first stanza, senior guard Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) provided an excellent floor game with five assists and zero turnovers through 20 minutes of action. With starting point guard Susana Jara (Quito, Ecuador/Tustin HS, Calif.) playing just five minutes in the first half, Ingram took over duties from the point for much of the half.
However, Michigan was held scoreless in that final two minutes and headed to the locker room leading by a single point, 25-24. Additionally, one of the Wolverines' strengths through the first four games this season was their ability to get to the free throw line and knock down shots. Michigan was just 2-2 from the charity stripe in the first frame.
The second half was a different story, however, and Michigan grabbed the momentum right out of the gate as Ingram drilled her first triple of the game. Ingram's trifecta moved her into a tie on the school's all-time three-point field goal list with current director of basketball operations Molly Murray (1995-98) with 134.
Ingram's triple was also the catalyst for a 10-0 run over the first four minutes of the second frame, which allowed Michigan to push its lead into double figures (35-24) for the first time in the game. As a team the Wolverines shot a much more respectable .484 (15-31) from the field in the second half, while Marquette remained cool with a mark of .310 (9-29) in the final 20 minutes.
Michigan's depth then began to take over the game as sophomore forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) sparked the Wolverines off the bench with 12 points -- eight in the second half -- and five boards for the game. Fellow sophomore Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS) joined Gandy off the bench as they helped Michigan stretch its lead to 18 points over the next 10 minutes. Michigan led 53-35 with 7:42 remaining when Smith scored on a layup. Michigan would eventually lead by as much as 19 (59-40) before finishing off Marquette for a 65-49 victory.
Michigan (4-1) puts its four-game win streak on the line on Sunday (Dec. 2) against No. 23 Notre Dame in the Women's Collegiate Basketball Showcase at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. The game will start approximately 3 p.m., following the Marquette-Michigan State contest. The Michigan-Notre Dame duel is a rematch of last season's second-round NCAA Tournament tilt between the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish, which was won by Notre Dame 88-54 in its way to the national championship.
N O T E S
Alayne Ingram's six assists are a season high for the Wolverine senior.
LeeAnn Bies' double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds is her second of the season and 13th of her career.
Michigan's 13 team turnovers is a season low. Michigan also collected more assists than turnovers for the third straight game.
Michigan held Marquette to a .300 (18-60) mark from the field, a season low for a Wolverine opponent.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "We struggled in the first half, but I have to give Marquette a lot of credit because they are a good defensive team and they have nice size in that zone, which makes it difficult to shoot over. It was a hard-fought game and I thought we did a better job in the second half of executing our offense and getting the ball inside. I also thought the spark we got off the bench from (Jennifer) Smith and (Stephanie) Gandy was a big help."
On the key to the second-half turnaround ... "I really felt we did a better job with our penetration in the second half. Alayne (Ingram) and Susana (Jara) did a much better job of turning the corner on Marquette's big kids when they showed on the ball screens and then kicking the ball out for open looks. When you do that the ball movement in general improves and good things happen."
Senior Guard Alayne Ingram
On matching the three-point record ... "Just tying the record is not what I intended to do, but honestly it's not something you think about a lot during the game. If I break the record against Notre Dame that is great, but it is not something I am going to force to happen. The key is to play well and give Notre Dame a better run than we did last year and then if I get the record in the flow of the game, great."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
