Michigan
Illinois
Wolverines Outplayed by Illinois in League Home Opener
1/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| | Smith scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her first start since Dec. 1. |
Illinois gained the momentum early, as guard Jere Issenmann canned her first of four triples to give the Illini an early three-point advantage. Pool put Michigan on the board with a basket inside, followed by Smith's second three-pointer of the season, allowing U-M to go up by two points. After another Illinois basket inside knotted the score at five apiece, a held-ball call allowed the Illini to regain possession and convert on another triple from Issenmann. Junior forward Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) scored on Michigan's next two possessions, but three consecutive three-pointers allowed Illinois to open up a 17-11 lead with 13:11 remaining in the half.
Freshman guard Mie Burlin (Chalottenlund, Denmark/BMS-Herleb) connected on a triple after Smith scored down low to cut Illinois' lead to four at the 10-minute mark of the first frame. However, a basket from freshman guard Rachael Carney (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) would be Michigan's last field goal for nearly eight minutes, as the Illini defense forced several turnovers and put together a 22-1 run -- including a 16-0 stretch -- to take a 46-19 lead in the closing minutes of the first half. Sophomore guard Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame Prep HS) ended the Wolverines' scoring drought with her first basket to send Michigan to locker room down 46-21 at the break.
Michigan ended the half with seven different players on the scoreboard, as Smith led with five points and five rebounds. Yanni and Williams led Illinois at the half with 14 and 13 points, respectively. The Illinois defense proved to be the real story in the first frame, creating 17 Michigan turnovers while collecting nine steals.
Smith opened the scoring for U-M in the second half, but Illinois would never relinquish its lead. The teams traded baskets for the next several possessions, with Pool and center LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) combining for 21 points to make the score 72-52 in favor of the Illini. Illinois then went on a 17-5 run to go up by 30 with three minutes to play and put the game out of reach for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines will travel to West Lafayette, Ind., next Sunday (Jan. 12) to face Purdue at 2 p.m.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Sue Guevara
On the game overall ... "I was in total shock and stunned with how we played in the first half. I was embarrassed. I've never seen that Michigan team play. We were a much better basketball team in December and I honestly felt our non-conference schedule had prepared us for the Big Ten. You have to give Illinois a lot of credit for the pressure they put on us defensively, but not 29 turnovers' worth."
On what has gone wrong ... "The things that we've been doing well, like playing defense, getting to the free throw line and making our free throws. We've even done a better job lately of taking care of the basketball. I'm going into the next practice with the mindset that it is October 14th and the season is beginning because we are going to go back to the basics."
Senior Center LeeAnn Bies
On how the game got away from them ... "I think that's what we're going to figure out this week. There's no easy answer. We would make one mistake and it would escalate and they took advantage of each mistake."
On the turnovers ... "It's frustrating and it's hard to do anything offensively when you struggle to get a shot off."
Fifth-Year Senior Forward Raina Goodlow
On the mindset at halftime when facing a big deficit ... "The first half was embarrassing. Even though we were down big, the game isn't over. We felt we could get back in the game but at the same time, it was also a pride thing, especially in front of our home crowd. We always talk about how important the first five minutes of the second half are, and if you're going to get back in a game you have to take it one possession at a time."
On being 0-2 in the Big Ten ... "We still have to fight and we know after two games that it's still early. We have to go about it thinking that we're still in it."
N O T E S
Raina Goodlow handed out a season-best five assists against Illinois.
Jennifer Smith collected her second double-double of the season and 10th of her career. Smith, who missed five games with a knee injury, started for the first time since the Detroit game (Dec. 1).
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
