Michigan
5-6
Nebraska
5-3
Michigan Has Home Win Streak Snapped by Nebraska
12/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team suffered a 69-49 defeat to the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday night (Dec. 17) at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (5-6) were unable to overcome Nebraska's mix of man-to-man and 3-2 zone defenses, as U-M shot just 37 percent on 19-of-51 from the field while turning over the ball 23 times.
Sophomore Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) led the way for the Wolverines with 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Michigan had eight players score during the contest, including nine points apiece from freshmen Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) and Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School). Sophomore Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./J.W. Sexton HS) came off the bench to add eight points on 4-of-5 shooting while also collecting four rebounds.
The Huskers (4-4) traded baskets with U-M to take an early 9-7 advantage thanks to two buckets by forward Kelsey Griffin. Coming off the bench, Walker matched Griffin's baskets with two solid field goals of her own, bringing Michigan to within two points with 14:42 left to play in the first half.
Nebraska responded with an 8-1 run as four different players scored during the six-minute spurt, leading to a 17-8 Husker lead with 10:19 remaining in the first half. The Wolverines clawed back with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 17-15 with just under eight minutes left until the break. Jump-starting the drive was Cooper, who connected on her second three-pointer of the game at 9:35. Less than a minute later, Clement fed sophomore Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) down low for her first points of the ballgame. Michigan looked to the paint on the next series, as Skrba knocked down a short jumper to bring Michigan within two points.
Nebraska responded with a 9-2 run, tying its biggest lead of the first half with just over three-minutes left before half. Cornhusker forward Jessica Gerhart led the way for Nebraska with all of her eight first-half points during the run, which led to the 26-17 advantage.
Freshman Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS) and Benson combined to score Michigan's last seven points of the half, and U-M's defense limited Nebraska to only one basket to bring the Wolverines within four points, 28-24, heading into halftime. The highlight of the U-M surge came with Benson converting a conventional three-point play.
Going into the break, Benson and Cooper led the Wolverines with six points apiece, while Walker and Queen came off the bench in supporting roles to add four points each.
Nebraska got off to a quick second-half start as Gerhart knocked down an early basket. Michigan answered right back with a Cooper bucket to make the score 31-26 with 16:37 left in the game. The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions, with Cooper draining her third three-pointer of the game before Walker connected on another short basket. A triple by Tk Lafleur pushed the Nebraska lead to 12 points, 46-34, with 10:38 left in the game.
An 8-0 Husker run later in the second half extended the Nebraska lead to 58-38 with 6:15 remaining. The Wolverines gave a valiant effort until the game clock expired, with Minnfield collecting a pair of baskets in the closing minutes and Benson capping off the U-M scoring with a three-point basket with 23 seconds left.
The Wolverines will hit the road Friday (Dec. 23) for the first of three straight road games. U-M will take on St. Bonaventure at 2 p.m. at the Reilly Center in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
