Michigan
Purdue
Wolverines Drop Overtime Decision to Top Seed Purdue
3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The No. 9-seeded University of Michigan women's basketball team gave No. 1 seed Purdue all it could handle this afternoon (Friday, March 1), pushing the seventh-ranked Boilermakers to overtime before falling 74-67 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse. For the second day in a row the Wolverines were paced by sophomore forward Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS), who netted 22 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
| | Smith |
Michigan (17-12) started to get its problems corrected over the final nine minutes of the half as Smith scored six points during an 11-4 Michigan run that trimmed the deficit to one (23-22) with 3:14 left in the half. Michigan's half-court execution improved dramatically during this run as Smith's play in the paint opened things up on the perimeter and Heather Oesterle (Mason, Mich./Mason HS) took advantage, drilling a triple during the run.
With Smith's low-post partner, LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS), in foul trouble for much of the first half, head coach Sue Guevara went to a perimeter-oriented lineup with Oesterle playing the power forward position. With four players on the perimeter Smith had plenty of operating room in the paint and utilized it to the tune of 10 first-half points. Despite not playing well Michigan found itself down just one (25-24) at the 1:55 mark but Purdue came up with a key 7-0 run in the final two minutes of the half to head into the locker room with a 32-24 lead.
The primary reason for the eight-point deficit at the half was the Wolverines' inability to keep Purdue off the offensive boards. The Boilermakers converted nine offensive rebounds in the first half into 14 second-chance points compared to just two for Michigan.
Michigan was a different team in the second half and used a 12-5 run over the first five minutes to slice the deficit to one (37-36). In addition to Smith's effectiveness inside, Alayne Ingram (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS) and Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) were much more aggressive on the offensive end getting to the basket with the dribble. Gandy scored six points in the Michigan run to start the second stanza.
The Wolverines also did a nice job of back-cutting to combat Purdue's man-to-man pressure defense, and a hoop by Oesterle on a nice dish from freshman Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) gave Michigan its first lead of the game (42-40) with 12:34 remaining. Michigan's efficiency in the half court was evidenced by the fact the Wolverines did not have a second-half turnover until the 3:31 mark and finished the second stanza with just two turnovers total. As a result the Wolverines continued to get just about whatever they wanted on the offensive end and pushed their lead to as much as eight (58-50) after two free throws from Ingram.
However, the execution ceased over the final five minutes as Purdue turned up the defensive intensity and made it much tougher for Michigan to get the ball inside. A triple from Purdue guard Kelly Komara and a conventional three-point play from Shereka Wright followed the Ingram free throws and Purdue was right back in it, down two (58-56) with 3:24 left in the game. Ingram answered the Purdue run with a conventional three-point play after blowing by Komara for a layup. Unfortunately for the Maize and Blue that was the last points scored in regulation as it went scoreless over the final 3:12.
Both teams had plenty of chances to end the game in regulation after Purdue tied the game at 61 with 2:01 left but neither team could break through. A turnover by Ingram with 12 ticks left gave Purdue a golden opportunity to end it in regulation but the Wolverines met the challenge defensively to force a missed shot from Laura Meadows and send the game into overtime.
Michigan struck first blood in the extra session on a jumper by Pool but Purdue came right back with five straight points for a 66-63 lead and never looked back. Ingram nailed a tough runner in the paint and a pair of free throws from Smith kept Michigan within three (70-67) with 38 seconds left. With little difference between the shot clock and game clock the Wolverines put Purdue on the line and the Boilermakers converted to salt away a 74-67 win.
Michigan now awaits the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, March 10, for word on a potential bid to either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT.
N O T E S
The overtime contest was the second of the season for the Wolverines. Michigan won a double-overtime tilt at then-No. 21 LSU 86-81 on Dec. 16.
Michigan matched a school record with a perfect 1.000 (15-15) from the free throw line.
Michigan finished with just 11 turnovers, which matched its best effort of the season in that category.
Jennifer Smith's double of 22 points and 10 rebounds is her sixth of the season and first since a 26-point, 19-rebound effort against Iowa on Jan. 31.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "I thought we did a much better job in the second half on the defensive boards and really limited their chances. That was what brought us back in it and we also executed on the offensive end for most of the second half. I just want to wish Purdue good look."
On the key down the stretch ... "I did not like our shot selection on a couple of possessions and that really hurt us in the final minutes. We did a nice job of running our sets in the second half but we did not have good shot selection down the stretch."
Sophomore Forward Jennifer Smith
On her play ... "I did not do anything different. My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball in a position where I could do something with it and I converted."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
