Michigan
(2-3)
Charlotte
(6-0)
Pool's Double-Double Not Enough in Loss at Charlotte
12/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team held Charlotte more than 24 points under its season average, but the Wolverines struggled on the offensive end themselves in a 60-47 loss tonight (Friday, Dec. 3) at Halton Arena. U-M was down by as many as 13 early in the second half, but Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) turned up the intensity to record her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 boards and help Michigan cut the lead to five with six minutes to play. Michigan (2-3) would not get any closer despite a 10-point effort from Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS).
Michigan was uncomfortable playing this game at Charlotte's speed from the beginning, turning the ball over six times in the first three minutes. Defensively, however, the Wolverines contained the Charlotte attack and stayed within striking distance for much of the first half. Michigan held Charlotte, which entered the game shooting .440 from the field and averaging 83.4 points, to just 30 first-half points on .286 shooting.
The 49ers' swarming, gambling defense caused the Wolverines plenty of trouble before Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS) put Michigan on the board at the 16:47 mark. The Wolverines scored just two points before the first media timeout but trailed by only four (6-2). Michigan settled a little bit offensively after the timeout, with Pool and Becky Flippin (Springfield, Mo./Parkview HS) connecting on consecutive triples to cut the deficit to two (10-8).
The triples could not get Michigan untracked, however, while foul trouble to starters Kelly Helvey (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) and Walker compounded the struggles. With two offensive options in foul trouble and Pool struggling to find her stroke, Michigan turned to Cooper for some offense. The freshman answered with a team-high six first-half points and brought Michigan back from an eight-point deficit to within four (23-19) at the 4:07 mark, the 49ers scored the final seven points of the half and led 30-19 heading into the break.
The Wolverines' intensity on the defensive end and on the glass increased out of the locker room, led by Pool, who was a rebounding force on both ends. Second shots coupled with seven second-half steals helped Michigan get back into the game. Walker found herself on the receiving end of some of Michigan's transition baskets following those steals.
Flippin connected on another triple and Pool scored on a couple drives to the hoop as the Maize and Blue trimmed the lead to single digits early in the second half. Michigan eventually cut the lead to seven (47-40) on a nice drive to the hole from Jessica Starling (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby HS), then whittled it to five (50-45) after two free throws from Cooper and one charity from Helvey.
Charlotte (6-0) then went on a 6-0 run while holding the Wolverines scoreless over a five-minute stretch, and Pool's layup with 0:57 left was U-M's only scoring in the final 5:50.
Michigan returns to the hardwood for a key three-game homestand at Crisler Arena beginning on Monday (Dec. 6) against UNLV. Game time is 7 p.m.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Cheryl Burnett
On the turnovers ... "Give Charlotte credit because I think they are almost a great team at this stage of the season. They did some things in disguising and changing up their traps that our young kids just were not ready for. (Sakellie) Daniels is one of the best players we will see this season, and she made their defensive pressure go."
On Tabitha Pool ... "I thought she was tremendous in terms of effort and especially in the second half. She did not shoot that well and missed some looks she normally makes, as it seemed everybody did, but she played extremely hard and really kept us in the game in the second half."
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
