Michigan
6-6
St. Bonaventure
6-3
Walker, Dierdorf Power Wolverines Past St. Bonaventure
12/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed out its non-conference schedule with a 68-60 victory over St. Bonaventure Friday afternoon (Dec. 23) at the Reilly Center. The Wolverines evened their record at 6-6 heading into Big Ten Conference play by using stellar execution in the post to finish the game shooting 28-of-45 (.622), including a blistering 14-of-18 (.778) in the second half.
Two Wolverines had career performances against the Bonnies. Sophomore Ta'Shia Walker (Lansing, Mich./J.W. Sexton HS) recorded a career-high 32 points on 13-of-17 shooting, while classmate Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) scored a career-best 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Walker and Dierdorf earned rebounding totals of nine and seven, respectively.
Neither team was able to build a significant lead throughout the first 14 minutes of action. Walker scored 10 straight points during an eight-minute span to help the Wolverines establish a 15-11 advantage with 8:25 left in the first half. Walker's early success on offense featured a pair of put-back baskets and a three-pointer from the top at 11:12.
After three unanswered baskets gave St. Bonaventure its first lead, 17-15, at 6:08, sophomore Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) drilled a triple from the wing to put Michigan back in front by one point. Cooper's bucket jump-started a 17-2 run to close out the first half. Walker continued to find looks down low, scoring eight more points during the surge. Dierdorf also contributed during the run with four points in the post. A basket by Priscilla Edwards at 1:20 gave St. Bonaventure its first points in almost five minutes, and the Wolverines went into the break with a 32-19 lead.
Walker nearly outscored the Bonnies by herself in the first half, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting as Michigan shot 52 percent (14-of-27) in the first 20 minutes. U-M held St. Bonaventure to just 8-of-37 shooting (.216).
St. Bonaventure came out of the break and scored 11 unanswered points, including two triples by Stefanie Collins, to come within two points of the lead, 32-30, with 16:44 left to play. A basket by Dierdorf broke a five-minute scoring drought for Michigan, but the Bonnies responded with a 9-3 run to regain a 39-37 advantage with 13:30 remaining in the contest.
St. Bonaventure continued to have trouble containing Michigan's post players, with Walker and Dierdorf spearheading a 15-2 run over the next four minutes. Walker scored eight more points, including her second triple and a coast-to-coast three-point play. Dierdorf also collected a three-point play before earning a layup off a Walker steal.
With the Wolverines holding a 52-42 lead with 9:20 left on the clock, Dierdorf scored back-to-back hoops to keep U-M in front by nine points. The Michigan defense never let the lead drop below six points, and the Maize and Blue went away with its first road victory of the season.
Michigan opens up Big Ten play on Thursday (Dec. 29) when it visits Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
