Michigan
Notre Dame
U-M Tops Defending National Champ, Wins Fifth Straight
12/2/2001 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) earned its most impressive victory of the early season as it dominated defending national Notre Dame from the start on its way to a 78-63 victory Sunday (Dec. 2) in front of 6,482 fans at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. Taking part of the Women's Basketball Showcase for the second straight year, Michigan gained a measure of revenge for its NCAA Tournament second-round loss to the Fighting Irish last season in South Bend, Ind.
The Michigan catalysts were a perfect balance between senior guard Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) on the perimeter and junior center LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) in the paint. Ingram owned game-high honors with 22 points, while Bies made 10-of-11 from the foul line and put together her second straight double-double effort with 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Wolverines gained the early advantage as the Michigan duo combined for 15 of the Wolverines' first 17 points en route to a six-point edge (17-11) with 11:51 left in the first half. Ingram's early eight points included a pair of the triples, the first of which made her Michigan's career leader in three-point field goals with 135. Ingram passed current Michigan director of basketball operations Molly Murray, who played for the Wolverines from 1995-98.
The inside-out action of Bies and Ingram along with the slashing of freshman Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) proved deadly against the Notre Dame zone. Facing yet another zone defense, the Wolverines continued to put together their best half of the season as they opened up a double-digit lead midway through the first half and did not look back.
Ingram, who was 6-7 from the field for a game-high 15 first-half points, helped Michigan expand its lead to as much as 19 (38-19) with under five minutes left in the first half. Ingram controlled the game from both guard positions after Bies earned her second foul with much of the first half remaining. Michigan was able to expand its lead with Bies on the bench thanks in part to the play of freshman center Katrina Mason (Detroit, Mich./Murray Wright HS). Mason, who was forced into the rotation because of a back injury to senior forward Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Domincan HS), contributed six points, two rebounds and an assist in nine minutes during the first half, her most extensive action of the season.
The Wolverines rode an unbelievable shooting percentage of .680 (17-25) to a 45-27 lead at the break. Indicative of the Wolverines' crisp offensive play in the first frame was their 14 assists compared to just five turnovers as senior point guard Susana Jara (Quito, Ecuador/Tustin HS, Calif.) delivered a team-best four assists and zero turnovers. Despite the early foul trouble, Bies added 11 points and four rebounds in the first half.
Notre Dame made its best run of the game to open the second half as it scored the first six points to trim the deficit to 12. However, that was as close as Notre Dame would get the remainder of the game. As was the case in the first half, when Michigan needed a big shot it was Ingram coming through as the senior drilled a triple to push the Michigan lead back out to 15. The Wolverine front line then began to wear down Notre Dame as the Wolverines went on a 16-8 run over seven minutes to turn a 13-point lead into a game-high 21-point advantage (66-45) with eight minutes remaining.
During the run that really put the game out of reach, Bies pounded the glass and was helped by fellow post player Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS). Smith, who started in place of Goodlow, finished with 12 points -- 10 in the second half -- and six rebounds. Michigan slowed the pace down in the final six minutes and kept Notre Dame's deficit at double digits before enjoying a 78-63 victory.
The Wolverines head to Seattle, Wash., next week for the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, hosted by the University of Washington. Michigan will play Washington State on Friday (Dec. 7, 6 p.m. PST) before meeting the host Huskies on Sunday (Dec. 9, 3 p.m. PST).
N O T E S
Katrina Mason finished with career highs in points (6), rebounds (3) and minutes (16).
The Wolverines' 23 assists, including a team-best five from Susana Jara, are a team season best, while their 13 turnovers matched a season low.
The Wolverines are now 1-1 this season vs. ranked opponents. Michigan lost its season opener to then-No. 6 Louisiana Tech, 81-66 on Nov. 16.
Due to the injury to Raina Goodlow, Michigan was forced to start its fourth different starting lineup in six games this season.
Michigan's current five-game win streak matches its best win streak of a year ago.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "I thought we executed the game plan very well. You know coming out in the second half you are not going to shoot 68 percent again, but I felt we still executed pretty well. LeeAnn Bies and Alayne Ingram have been through the wars and I think our experience was the difference today, but overall that was our best effort of the season and I felt we put two good halves together. We knew Notre Dame would make a run in the second half because they are too good, but we kept our poise and kept them at bay."
On the magnitude of the victory ... "We have had some big wins in my first five seasons here and this was a big win this season. Certainly we remember being ousted from the tournament last year, but it was just a good win for these kids and our program. I really like the direction of our program right now."
Junior Center LeeAnn Bies
On her performance ... "I have been pretty happy with my play and I knew today my job would be to bang the boards and play tough in the paint. When that happens I get to the free throw line and I have been knocking them down this season."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
