Weekly Release #8
12/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Opening Tip
The University of Michigan women's basketball team returns from Christmas break and a nine-day layoff to face Oakland University on Tuesday (Dec. 28, 7 p.m.) at Crisler Arena in the first of three home games over a six-day period. The game against Oakland closes out the non-conference portion of the Michigan schedule before the Wolverines open up Big Ten play with home games vs. Illinois (Thursday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.) and Michigan State (Sunday, Jan. 2, 2 p.m.). Michigan returns home after dropping two straight on the road at Western Michigan and Maine, but the Wolverines own a 3-2 home record this season, including impressive wins over Washington and UNLV. Michigan is led by Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS), who averages 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds and is coming off a season-high 29-point effort vs. Maine. Michigan's three opponents this week bring into Crisler Arena a combined record of 23-6.
What: Michigan vs. Oakland (Tuesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.)
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena/13,751)
Radio: WTKA AM-1050/MgoBlue.com
Television: Comcast Local
What: Michigan vs. Illinois (Thursday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.)
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena/13,751)
Radio: WTKA AM-1050 or WLBY AM-1290/MgoBlue.com
Television: none
What: Michigan vs. Michigan State (Sunday, Jan. 2, 2 p.m.)
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena/13,751)
Radio: WTKA AM-1050/MgoBlue.com
Television: Comcast Local
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
Michigan's contest vs. Illinois on Thursday is scheduled to air live on WTKA at 7 p.m. However, should the Michigan ice hockey team advance to the championship game of the Great Lakes Invitational on that same day at 8 p.m., the women's basketball live broadcast would be shifted to WLBY AM-1290 with a tape delay airing on WTKA following the ice hockey game. Should the Michigan hockey team advance to the consolation game on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., the women's basketball game would begin on 1290, but then be joined in progress on WTKA some time in the first half.
In the Paint
Michigan senior captain Tabitha Pool is coming one of her best games in a Michigan uniform after pouring in 29 points and grabbing eight rebounds while bringing Michigan back from a 17-point second-half deficit to within four in a loss at Maine. Pool upped her scoring average to a season-high 17.0 points and is the only Wolverine to score in double figures in all 10 games this season. The Big Ten's leading rebounder has led Michigan in scoring in seven straight games and in both scoring and rebounding in the last six.
Michigan started its fourth different lineup in 10 games at Maine and that lineup consisted of seniors Tabitha Pool and BreAnne McPhilamy along with freshmen Becky Flippin, Krista Clement and Jessica Starling. The start for Starling was the first of her career and made her the sixth Michigan freshman to start at least one game this season. Michigan's seven freshmen have combined for a total of 31 starts in a season yet to reach its midpoint.
Michigan is 3-2 at home this season and 12-7 overall at Crisler Arena under second-year coach Cheryl Burnett. The Wolverines have been successful at home due in large part to solid defensive play, limiting their opponents to .391 shooting from the field and just 57.8 points. Michigan is typically much more aggressive offensively at home, making more free throws (72) that its opponents attempt (66). The Wolverines are 72-110 (.655) from the stripe at Crisler Arena while its opponents are 48-66 (.727).
While Tabitha Pool has been the one constant for the Wolverines this season, Michigan has been at its best with an inside-outside balance in its four wins. Michigan's best low-post presence this season to compliment Pool's all-around game has been freshman Ta'Shia Walker, who is the Wolverines' second-leading scorer (12.8), but is Michigan's leading scorer in the four wins (16.0). In those four wins, Walker is shooting .639 (23-36) from the floor and has made a team-best 23 trips to the line. Before Pool's 29-point effort vs. Maine on Dec. 18, Walker owned the two highest scoring games by a Wolverine this season with 22-point games in wins over Washington and UC Santa Barbara.
A more in-depth look at the versatility of Tabitha Pool shows she is the only player in the Big Ten among the league leaders in scoring (7th, 17.0), rebounding (1st, 9.5), free throw shooting (15th, .810), three-point field goal percentage (14th, .348) and three-point field goals made (8th, 1.60). She leads the Wolverines in all five of those categories as well as steals (22) and blocks (eight). Pool entered this season as a career .314 shooter from behind the arc and .676 at the free throw line.
Michigan freshmen account for 37.1 points or 60-percent of the Wolverines' scoring through 10 games.
The Opponents
Oakland (7-3): The Golden Grizzlies have won three straight, including four of their last five after a 93-54 win on Dec. 21 against Buffalo ... Oakland's highest scoring output of the season was 98 points in a loss at Ohio in the season opener ... Oakland has three players averaging in double figures; Anne Hafeli (17.3), Nicole Piggot (16.2) and Jayme Wilson (14.5) ... those three players have made 58 of Oakland's 65 triples this season and the Grizzlies are shooting .396 (65-164) from behind the arc as a team ... Oakland has 191 assists against 162 turnovers on the season ... Oakland on the Internet: www.ougrizzlies.com.
Illinois (7-2): Illinois has won three straight and four of its last five, including a 78-63 win over UCLA on Dec. 19 ... The Fighting Illini are led by Angelina Williams, who is tied for second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.7) and Tiffanie Guthrie (15.4) ... Illinois is allowing its opponents just 57.3 points on .356 shooting from the field ... Illinois host Central Michigan on Dec. 28 before traveling to Ann Arbor ... Illinois outrebounds its opponents 41.1-33.4 ... Illinois on the Internet: www.fightingillini.com.
#11 Michigan State (10-1): The Spartans have won six straight since an 80-75 loss to TCU at the Rainbow Classic ... Michigan State has four players averaging in double figures, led by Kelli Roehrig (16.5) and three players averaging at least 15.1 points ... Michigan State owns an overtime win over then-No. 3 Notre Dame (82-73) on Dec. 2 ... Michigan State is outscoring its opponents 75.9-60.8 and are outrebounding its opponents 45.6-35.1 ... Michigan State on the Internet: www.msuspartans.com
Doubled Up
Tabitha Pool was among the Big Ten leaders with seven double-doubles last season and now leads the conference with five in 10 games this season. She now has 20 double-doubles for her career. Michigan is 2-3 in the five 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 |
| Western Michigan | L, 62-79 | 16 | 12 |
Back on the Schedule
Following a one-year break, Michigan and Oakland renew their series for the 10th time with Michigan holding a 5-4 all-time advantage. Michigan won its last meeting against Oakland 96-65 on Dec. 10, 2002, in Rochester, Mich., that included a 15-point, five-rebound effort for Tabitha Pool. Michigan also won the last meeting between these teams at Crisler Arena, defeating Oakland 71-42 on Dec. 21, 2001.
Familiar Faces
Now in her third season as the head coach at Oakland is former Michigan assistant coach Eileen Hilliard. The former Eileen Shea was on Sue Guevara's staff at Michigan for six seasons from 1996-2002 that included three NCAA Tournament trips and two WNIT appearances. Former Wolverine Susana Jara (2000-03) is in her first season on Hilliard's staff in Oakland.
Michigan-Illinois Series
The Wolverines trail the Fighting Illini 31-19 in the all-time series after splitting two games last season. Michigan dropped a regular-season contest at Illinois (94-78), but gained a measure of revenge with a 62-58 win over Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Tabitha Pool played on of her best games as a junior, collecting 20 points and 13 rebounds to held Michigan advance past Illinois in the first-round of the Big Ten Tournament for the third straight season. Michigan is 6-4 in its last 10 vs. Illinois. Michigan's last game against Illinois at Crisler Arena was an 89-57 loss on Jan. 5, 2002.
Michigan-Michigan State Series
Michigan has lost four straight to the Spartans after winning seven of the previous nine against their in-state rivals. Michigan's last meeting vs. Michigan State was at Crisler Arena last season and the Wolverines nearly pulled off the upset against the 17th-ranked Spartans, leading for all but the final three minutes, including a 17-point advantage in the first half. Michigan State ultimately pulled out a 59-54 win despite a 15-point, six-rebound effort from Tabitha Pool.
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)
Dec. 18 at Maine (L, 61-69)
PLAYER NOTES
One of just two Wolverines to start all 10 games, Tabitha Pool leads Michigan in minutes (36.0), scoring (17.0), rebounding (9.5), three-point field goals (16), blocks (eight) and steals (22).
Pool is the only Wolverine to score in double figures in all 10 games and 12 straight dating back to last season. The senior last scored less than double figures on Feb. 29, 2004, in the regular-season finale against Minnesota.
Pool has led Michigan in both scoring and rebounding in six straight games and in scoring alone in seven straight.
Pool has at least seven rebounds in all but one game this season, which was four-rebound effort vs. Drake.
Sierrah Moore made her Michigan debut vs. IUPUI on Dec. 20.
Jessica Starling made her first career start at Maine and played a career-high 25 minutes.
Becky Flippin is averaging 29.8 minutes as Michigan's primary point guard and is one of just two Wolverines to start every game.
Flippin has tripled in four straight games and eight of 10 this season for 13 total triples, which is the second-most on the team.
Flippin has committed just six total turnovers in her last four games and is averaging 9.7 points in her last three games.
Krista Clement played both the two-guard and point guard positions extensively this season. She leads the team in assists (29) and assist-turnover ratio (+1.26).
Kelly Helvey is second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game after averaging just 2.7 boards as a freshman. She is averaging 7.0 boards in her last three games.
Helvey is second on the team with 25 assists and is the only Wolverine with at least one assist in all 10 games.
Janelle Cooper leads the team in offensive rebounds (30) from her guard/forward position and is second in minutes (30.8).
Katie Dierdorf missed the Maine game after suffering a hip injury vs. Western Michigan on Dec. 14. Dierdorf has scored in double figures in two straight games and scored eight points in the first half vs. WMU before suffering the injury.
Ta'Shia Walker has scored in double figures in seven of 10 games this season, including 22 points apiece in wins over Washington and UC Santa Barbara.
Walker is Michigan's second-leading scorer (12.8) and leads the team free throw trips (47).
BreAnne McPhilamy started her second game of the season and played a season-high 23 minutes vs. Maine.
RECORD/MILESTONE WATCH
Tabitha Pool has now scored 1,097 career points and is 15 points from matching Anne Thorius (1998-2001) for 16th 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 eight triples shy of becoming the sixth player in school history with 100 career trifectas.
Pool has started 26 straight games dating back to last season.
Pool has 125 career steals which makes her two thefts shy of surpassing Akisha Franklin (1995-98) and moving into 15th place on the all-time list.
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
