Weekly Release #7
12/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Opening Tip
The University of Michigan women's basketball team finished up a recent three-game homestand with a 2-1 mark and now returns to the road for a pair of contests. The Wolverines travel to Western Michigan on Tuesday (Dec. 14, 7 p.m.) to face the Broncos at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. The game is a rematch of a game last season that included one of the biggest turnarounds of the year. WMU shot out to a 20-3 lead in the first half, but took just a 27-26 lead into the break and the Wolverines completed the 30-point swing with a 66-53 win. Michigan closes out the week at Maine on Saturday (Dec. 18, 2 p.m.) where they will face a Black Bear team coming off its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years. Michigan's game against Maine represents the eighth time in its first 10 games the Wolverines will face a team coming off a postseason appearance in 2004.
What: Michigan at Western Michigan (Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.)
Where: Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena/5,800)
Radio: WLBY AM-1290/MgoBlue.com
Television: Comcast Local
What: Michigan at Maine (Saturday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.)
Where: Orono, Maine (Harold Alfond Sports Arena/5,712)
Radio: WTKA AM-1050/MgoBlue.com
Television: none
Internet Coverage
Michigan fans can catch every women's basketball game this season over the Internet at MgoBlue.com. Live audio coverage of all road games along with a combination of live audio and video coverage of all home games provide thorough multimedia coverage of Michigan women's basketball.
Over the Air
WTKA's expanded coverage of Michigan women's basketball now includes live coverage of each and every Wolverine contest. WTKA talk-show host and Ann Arbor radio personality Dennis Fithian will provide the play-by-play for Michigan women's basketball throughout the 2004-05 season.
Radio Note
Due to a conflict with the Michigan men's basketball game against Boston on Tuesday, WTKA AM-1050 will air the women's basketball game at Western Michigan on tape delay following the conclusion of the men's game. The women's game at Western will air live in its entirety on WTKA's sister station, WLBY AM-1290.
In the Paint
Tabitha Pool led the Wolverines in scoring for the fifth straight game with a 16-point effort in the win over IUPUI on Saturday night. The senior, who leads the Big Ten in rebounding (9.4) and double-doubles (four), has been the Wolverines' most consistent performer this season, scoring in double figures in all eight games and 10 straight overall dating back to last season. She is the only player in the Big Ten among the conference's top 11 in scoring, rebounding, three-point field-goal percentage and three-point field goals.
Michigan started an all-freshman backcourt of Becky Flippin and Krista Clement for the second time this season in the win over IUPUI and both youngsters scored in double figures. Clement, who leads the team in assists (25), scored 11 points and dished out four assists while Flippin tallied a career-high 12 points. The pair has accounted for 43 assists or 42-percent of Michigan's 102 assists this season. It was the first time this pair started in the same backcourt since the season opener at Alabama.
Freshman forward Katie Dierdorf started her first career game vs. IUPUI and delivered her second straight game in double-digits with a 10-point effort in a career-high 29 minutes. Hampered by an injured thumb earlier in the season, Dierdorf has averaged 19.0 minutes of action in the last three games after averaging just 6.4 minutes in the first five games.
The Wolverines started four freshmen for the first time this season in the win over IUPUI when Katie Dierdorf, Becky Flippin, Krista Clement and Janelle Cooper trotted out for the opening tip. Freshmen accounted for 46 of Michigan's 68 points in the win and have accounted for 38.7 points or 63-percent of Michigan's 61.4 scoring average this season.
Although Tabitha Pool is enjoying her most complete season as a Wolverine, Michigan has displayed good balance throughout the early portion of its season. Michigan has had at least four players in double figures three times this season, including a season-high five players in the win over IUPUI.
Michigan's games this week at Western Michigan and Maine mark the seventh and eighth time in the last nine games the Wolverines will face a team coming off a 2004 postseason appearance. The Wolverines check in this week ranked 67th in the nation in the latest Summerville/RPI listing and have played the nation's 32nd-toughest schedule to date.
The Opponents
WMU (0-5): The Broncos have dropped their first five straight this season, including a pair of road games vs. Big Ten foes Northwestern (64-60) and Purdue (74-42) ... WMU has two players averaging in double figures, led by Carrie Moore (13.0) and Kelly Koerber (11.3) ... Moore also leads the Broncos in rebounding (7.4) ... WMU's lost to Purdue on Sunday (Dec. 12) after an 11-day break since the 57-54 loss at home to Butler on Nov. 30 ... WMU's game vs. Michigan is just its second at home this season ... Western Michigan on the Internet: www.wmubroncos.com.
Maine (3-4): The Black Bears are coming off a 67-59 home loss to Big Ten foe Indiana on Saturday (Dec. 10), but have a week off before facing the Wolverines ... Maine has three players in double figures, led by Missy Traversi who is averaging 13.0 points and leads the team with 12 triples ... Maine shoots .810 (94-116) from the free throw line ... Maine's opponents are shooting .411 (37-90) from behind the arc ... Maine on the Internet: www.goblackbears.com.
Doubled Up
Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) was among the Big Ten leaders with seven double-doubles last season and now shares the conference lead with four in the first eight games this season. She now has 19 double-doubles for her career. Michigan is 2-2 in the four games when the senior has reached double figures in points and rebounds:
Pool's Double-Doubles This Season
| Opponent | Result | Pts. | Reb. |
| Washington | W, 75-68 | 12 | 12 |
| UC Santa Barbara | W, 57-51 | 19 | 10 |
| Charlotte | L, 47-60 | 11 | 13 |
| Eastern Michigan | L, 60-69 | 16 | 11 |
Rematch
Michigan's comeback win last season against Western Michigan was led by All-Big Ten center Jennifer Smith (2001-04), who poured in 32 points and 13 boards in the 66-53 win. Tabitha Pool added 18 points, including 2-3 from behind the arc and four assists as the Wolverines overcame a 17-point first-half deficit (20-3) to earn a 13-point victory. No other Wolverine scored more than four points. Michigan outrebounded the Broncos 50-39 and held WMU to .300 shooting from the field.
Series
Michigan's win last season against WMU was its seventh straight in a series that WMU holds a 14-10 all-time advantage in. The Broncos won the first nine in the series from the 1973-74 season through the 1977-78 campaign. Since Michigan broke through with a win on Dec. 13, 1978, the Wolverines have won 10 of the last 15. During its current seven-game win streak in the series, Michigan has outscored WMU by an average of 72.3-58.1 and has won by double figures in five of those games. Michigan's last loss to WMU was a 60-57 defeat on Nov. 14, 1985, in Kalamazoo, Mich. The following is a game-by-game breakdown of the seven-game series win streak:
Nov. 27, 1985 (H) (65-50)
Dec. 10, 1987 (A) (67-59)
Dec. 6, 1988 (H) (73-62)
Dec, 6 1989 (A) (78-63)
March 11, 1999 (A) (73-64)
Dec. 3, 2000 (N) (84-56)
Nov. 21, 2003 (H) (66-53)
Michigan vs. America East
Michigan's trip to Maine on Saturday will be its first-ever meeting with the Black Bears, but the Wolverines' second trip to an America East member in four seasons. The Wolverines traveled to New Hampshire during the 2001-02 season and came away with an 81-61 win on Nov. 23, 2001. Then just a freshman, Tabitha Pool netted a then-career-best 21 points to go with six rebounds and three steals.
Winning with "D"
Michigan has been getting it done on the defensive end of late, having held two of its last three opponents under 50 points in wins over UNLV (45-43) and IUPUI (68-48). In Michigan's four wins, the Wolverines have held their opponents to just .349 shooting and only 52.5 points. Michigan's perimeter defense has been especially good all season where the Wolverines lead the Big Ten in three-point field-goal percentage defense at .246 (31-126).
Sharing the Ball
Michigan collected 16 team assists against 15 turnovers in the IUPUI, the second time the Wolverines have had a positive assist-turnover ratio this season. Michigan has dished out more assists than its opponents in seven of the eight games this season and are 4-3 when winning the assist battle.
Michigan vs. WNIT Teams
Western Michigan is the fifth team Michigan has faced in the non-conference season that participated in the 2004 WNIT. Michigan is 2-2 in its first four such games this season.
Nov. 22 vs. Washington (W, 75-68)
Nov. 30 vs. Drake (L, 60-61)
Dec. 3 at Charlotte (L, 47-60)
Dec. 6 vs. UNLV (W, 45-43)
Michigan vs. NCAA Tournament Teams
Michigan's matchup at Maine on Saturday will be its third of the non-conference season against a team coming off an NCAA Tournament bid. The Wolverines are 1-1 against 2004 NCAA Tournament teams.
Nov. 26 at UC Santa Barbara (W, 57-51)
Dec. 8 vs. Eastern Michigan (L, 60-69)
PLAYER NOTES
Tabitha Pool leads the Wolverines in points (15.6), rebounding (9.4), minutes (35.9), blocks (nine) and steals (17).
Pool has now scored in double figures in 10 straight games dating back to last season and is the only Wolverine to score in double figures in all eight games this season. The last time Pool was held under double figures was in last season's regular-season finale against Minnesota (Feb. 29, 2004).
Pool has led Michigan in both scoring and rebounding in four straight games.
A career .676 free throw shooter, Pool is shooting .828 (24-29) from the stripe this season.
Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS) tallied a career-high 12 points in the season opener at Alabama and has scored in five of Michigan's eight games this season.
Becky Flippin (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS) is averaging 29.5 minutes of action as the starting point guard and is the only freshman to start every game this season.
Flippin has tripled in six of Michigan's eight games and is third on the team eight triples.
Krista Clement (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS) played both the two-guard and point guard positions extensively this season. She leads the team in assists (25) and is second in triples (nine). She is 11th in the Big Ten with a 1.47 assist-turnover ratio.
After failing to score in double figures in the first six games, Clement has done so in each of the past two games and is averaging 11.5 points in those two games.
Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) is second on the team with 20 assists, tied for second with 12 steals and second in rebounding (4.8). She is one of just two Wolverines with at least one assist in all eight games.
Guard/forward Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) leads Michigan in offensive rebounding (23) after grabbing a career-best seven off the offensive glass against IUPUI.
Cooper is second on the team in minutes played (32.5).
Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) has scored in double in each of her past two games, averaging 10.5 over that stretch after scoring a total of just 10 points in her first six games.
Dierdorf is tied for second on the team with four blocks despite averaging only 11.1 minutes.
Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) has scored in double figures in six of eight games this season, including the two highest point totals by a Wolverine with 22 points apiece against Washington and UC Santa Barbara.
Walker is Michigan's leading scorer at 16.0 in its four wins. She is shooting .639 (23-36) from the field in Michigan's four wins.
Walker leads the Wolverines in free throw attempts (38) and makes (29).
RECORD/MILESTONE WATCH
Tabitha Pool has now scored 1,052 career points and is 12 points from passing Orethia Lilly (1983-86) and moving into 17th place on the all-time list.
Pool is six blocks shy of surpassing Pollyanna Johns (1995-98) and moving into 10th-place on the all-time list with 61.
Pool is nine triples shy of becoming the sixth player in school history with 100 career trifectas.
Pool has started 24 straight games dating back to last season.
Kelly Helvey is two assists shy or reaching 75 for her career.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Exclusive Club
Tabitha Pool posted her third double-double of the season and 18th of her career with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds at Charlotte on Dec. 3. In doing so, Pool became just the 18th player in Michigan history to reach 1,000-point plateau for her career and is one of only five Wolverines with 1,000 career points, 600 rebounds and 50 blocks.
Big Ten Honors
Tabitha Pool was honored with her third career Big Ten Player of the Week award on Monday (Nov. 29) after averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 11.0 rebounds while leading the Wolverines to wins over NCAA Tournament hopefuls Washington and UC Santa Barbara. Pool shot .600 (12-20) from the field and .417 (5-12) from behind the arc. She posted 19 points and 10 boards in the win over UCSB four days after posting 12 points and 12 boards against Washington. Those were her 16th and 17th career double-doubles.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
