Michigan
4-8 (0-1)
Illinois
8-2 (1-0)
Michigan Drops Heartbreaker to Illini in Big Ten Opener
12/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 65-63 loss to Illinois in its Big Ten Conference opener tonight (Thursday, Dec. 30) at Crisler Arena. The contest marked the second consecutive game the Wolverines trailed significantly at the half before coming back in the second frame to make a run at victory. After trailing Illinois by 14 heading into the locker rooms, the Wolverines shot 46.7 percent (14-for-30) in the second frame to knot the game at 63 with just 15 seconds remaining.
With Illinois leading 63-60, U-M freshman guard Jessica Starling (Tallahassee Fla./Godby HS) drained a three-point basket to tie the game at 63. After an Illinois timeout, Fighting Illini guard Angelina Williams, who held 27 of her team's 63 points, calmly responded with two points from the baseline to jump ahead 65-63 with eight seconds left on the clock. With time for one more shot and no timeouts, Michigan raced down the floor where senior Tabitha Pool (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) attempted a game-winning triple, but the shot bounced quietly off the rim.
Pool led the Wolverines with her sixth double-double of the season, scoring 25 points and bringing down 10 boards. The senior forward was a prime force in Michigan's comeback, scoring 18 of her 25 points in the second half. Starling also put in a significant performance, tallying a career-best 16 points including three triples and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
The Wolverines found themselves in a hole to open the game as the Fighting Illini jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead. Starling put up Michigan's first points of the contest, hitting a pair of free throws after grabbing her own rebound and attempting another field goal. After another Illinois hoop, Pool followed up a field goal with a quick triple to put the Wolverines within one (8-7).
The Maize and Blue then heated up, grabbing the lead with a 10-3 run. Starling kicked off the scoring drive with a three-point basket, followed by seven straight from freshman forward Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./Sexton HS). Freshman guard Krista Clement (St. Ignace, Mich./LaSalle HS) was a catalyst in the Wolverine drive, dishing off four assists to Starling and Walker to give Michigan a 19-15 lead with 13:07 remaining in the half.
Clement handed out a career-best and Michigan season-best eight assists for the game while turning the ball over just once in 35 minutes of action. The 2003 Michigan Miss Basketball earned her first career start tonight at point guard and responded with one of her best all-around games as a Wolverine.
Michigan built a five-point lead (21-16) before momentum shifted in favor if the Illini. The Wolverines had trouble hitting their shots, draining just one field goal in the final 12 minutes of the half. Williams hurt the Wolverines, racking up 15 points during the Michigan drought to help Illinois to a 14-point advantage (41-27) heading into the locker rooms. Michigan's inability to score on the offensive end led to a variety of transition baskets by the Fighting Illini as they pulled away late in the half.
The second half was a different story for Michigan, as it outscored Illinois 36-24. The Maize and Blue cut into the Illinois lead after scoring 16 points while holding the Fighting Illini to just two field goals in an 8:09 span. The Michigan run was sparked by Pool, who connected on a variety of mid-range jumpers. The senior captain shot 11-15 from the field for the game. Thanks to six more points from Pool and five from Starling, Michigan fought back to within one (51-50) with 8:18 remaining in the contest.
The Illini responded by going on a small run of their own, putting together a 5-0 drive over a three-minute span to extend their lead to 56-50 with 5:09 to play. The Wolverines held strong, and a quick two points under the basket from Walker and seven points from Pool, including an incredible step-back triple over Williams, set up Starling's game-tying triple.
Michigan rounds out its three-game homestand Sunday (Jan. 2) against Big Ten rival Michigan State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Crisler Arena. The game will be followed by an alumnae contest between the two intrastate rivals.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
