Michigan
Northwestern
First-Half Drought Sends Wolverines to Fifth Straight Loss
2/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team went 13:08 minutes without scoring in the middle of the first half and never recovered in a 67-38 loss to Northwestern this afternoon (Sunday, Feb. 9) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Michigan was paced by Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) with nine points as the loss dropped the Wolverines to 11-10 overall and 2-8 in the Big Ten.
In what was the Wolverines' worst half of the season, Northwestern used a 31-0 run beginning at the 14:03 mark to turn a 7-6 lead into a 38-6 advantage before LeeAnn Bies (Lakeview, Mich./Lakeview HS) hit a free throw with 1:22 on the clock to end the drought. Only a Pool triple with 15 seconds remaining in the first frame pushed the Wolverines into double figures as Michigan took a 40-12 deficit into the locker room.
Michigan connected on just 3-23 (.130) from the field before the break while the Wildcats shot .654 (17-26) from the floor, including 6-8 (.750) from behind the arc.
Michigan came out in the second half and picked up the Wildcats full-court and managed to slow them down a little, however, Michigan's struggles on the offensive end continued with the Wolverines shooting just .281 (9-32) in the second half. As a result, Michigan was never really able to cut into the Northwestern lead and both coaches began emptying their benches with more than five minutes remaining.
Raina Goodlow (Detroit, Mich./Dominican HS) came off the bench to score six second-half points while freshman Lauren Andrews (Houston, Texas/Klein Forest HS) dished out a team-high three assists. Despite their efforts Northwestern maintained its huge lead en route to the 67-38 win, holding the Wolverines to their lowest point total since a 53-36 loss at Iowa on Dec. 30, 1994.
The Wolverines return home for a two-game stretch in Crisler Arena. U-M will host Wisconsin on Thursday (Feb. 13) at 7 p.m. before going for a new Crisler Arena attendance record when it entertains Michigan State at 2 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 16).
N O T E S
Michigan's 19 offensive rebounds matched its second-best total of the season.
Michigan's .281 shooting percentage (12-55) is its lowest of the season.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
