Michigan
Alabama
Wolverines Upended by Alabama on OT Buzzer-Beater
11/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team led for the majority of the contest tonight (Monday, Nov. 24), but could not put away a pesky Alabama team that stayed in it long enough for the Crimson Tide's Tawana Freeman to score on an offensive board and putback at the buzzer for a 76-74 win at Crisler Arena. Four Wolverines scored in double figures, led by senior center Jennifer Smith (Lansing, Mich./DeWitt HS), who notched 27 to go with seven boards.
Alabama freshman Navonda Moore, who led all scorers, opened the scoring in the extra frame with a three-point shot, giving the Crimson Tide a 69-66 advantage. However, Smith answered with a free throw and then muscled her way to a three-point play on the next trip, handing the Wolverines a one-point advantage with 3:46 remaining. Niki Reams (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) hit a pair of free throws with three minutes remaining to push the Michigan advantage to three (74-71), but those were the last points the Wolverines would score.
With 44 seconds remaining, Smith was called for her fifth foul, sending her to the bench. The foul sent Dee Merriweather to the line, where she converted one of two free throws, pulling the Crimson Tide to within two, 74-72. Alabama's final four points came off of Michigan turnovers in the final 26 seconds of overtime. Gamble scored to tie the game at 74. With one second left on the clock, Freeman grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for the 76-74 win. It was Freeman's only field goal of the game.
Michigan actually dominated the first 10 minutes of play as Smith tallied 11 of the team's 13 points, including a 7-0 run over the first 3:10 of the game. The Wolverine defense played a key role early, forcing the Crimson Tide to only 3-of-13 shooting early on. After Michigan jumped out to a 15-8 lead, Alabama went on a 5-0 run. Alabama's Sipe silenced the crowd with a three-point field goal, and a pull-up jump shot by Gamble on the subsequent possession brought the game to within two points, 15-13. Alabama continued its run, outscoring Michigan 14-4 run over a 5:20 span and increasing the lead to 27-22.
Michigan's Stephanie Gandy (Detroit, Mich./Northern HS) ended the half on a 7-0 run, connecting on a triple, jumper in transition and layup to give the Wolverines a two-point halftime lead (29-27).
To start the second half, Alabama went on a 11-4 run as the Wolverines turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions at one point, prompting a Cheryl Burnett timeout. Reams, however, snapped a 7-0 run by the Crimson Tide, hitting a basket and converting a foul shot, as Michigan pulled to within reach, 38-36. Reams all-around play offensively and on the glass keyed a 13-2 run in a span of 3:04 that gave the Wolverines their biggest lead of the second frame at eight (52-44) with 6:50 remaining. Michigan maintained a lead between four and eight points over the next five-plus minutes and actually led 63-57 with 1:03 remaining.
The Crimson Tide, however, did not go away after a hoop and Monique Bivins triple cut the deficit to one (63-62). After Michigan went up 65-62, Merriweather scored in the paint to trim the lead back to one. Sierra Hauser-Price (Van Nuys, Calif./Notre Dame Prep) was fouled and split a pair of free throws, which allowed Moore tied the game at 66-66 on a running layup and the send the game into overtime.
After playing five games in 10 days, the Wolverines head back to the practice court to get ready for fifth-ranked Texas Tech on Friday (Nov. 28, 5 p.m. CST) in the semifinals of the SMU Hoops for Cure Classic in Dallas, Texas. Michigan will then face SMU or Texas-Arlington in either the consolation or championship contest on Saturday (Nov. 29).
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
