Michigan
6-3
Miami (Fla.)
7-2
Michigan Earns Home Victory Over Miami (Fla.)
12/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Score: Michigan 60, Miami (Fla.) 55
Records: U-M (6-3), Miami (Fla.) (7-2)
Next U-M Event: Wednesday, Dec. 6 -- at Miami (Ohio) (Oxford, Ohio), 7:00 p.m.
Michigan Earns Home Victory Over Miami (Fla.)
Event Recap| Boxscore| Photos| Notes & Quotes
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Notre Dame two days ago, the University of Michigan women's basketball team rebounded for a solid 60-55 victory over Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon (Dec. 3) at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (6-3) erased a seven-point deficit with 14:08 to play thanks to a 14-0 run over a span of6:05 to regain a 47-40 advantage they would never relinquish. U-M handed the Hurricanes just their second loss in nine games this season.
Junior Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) and freshmanLeQuisha Whitfield (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King HS) led the Maize and Blue with 11 points apiece. The Wolverines had another strong performance from their bench, as the U-M reserves outscored Miami's by a 23-14 margin. Sophomores Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) and Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS) combined for 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while junior Katie Dierdorf (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) and freshman Kalyn McPherson (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) scored four points apiece late in the game to help Michigan secure the win.
Whitfield and classmate Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatechewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate HS) were largely responsible for Michigan's fast start, combining for nine points during an 11-4 Wolverine run in the first4:04 of the contest. The Hurricanes got a much needed lift from Brittany Denson, who scored six of the team's first 11 points, and allowed Miami to stay within four points of the lead at 15-11 with12:58 remaining in the first half.
Michigan reeled off seven unanswered points, including back-to-back jumpers from Benson, to increase its lead to a game-high 11 points (22-11) at 8:38. Miami responded with a 12-0 run to take its first lead of the game, 23-22, with 6:01 to go until the break.
A driving layup by Cooper broke a4:13 scoreless drought, and a Queen three-pointer at3:34 put U-M ahead 27-25. The two teams exchanged a pair of free throws in the remaining minutes of the half, as the Wolverines took a slim 29-27 advantage into the locker room.
A pair of Whitfield buckets in the paint would be Michigan's only field goals for the first 10:11 of the second half. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes found a rhythm and went on a 13-4 run to grab the 40-33 lead at 14:08. The Wolverines would then put together their critical 14-0 run, which featured a three-point play by Queen and a pair of baskets by Benson. The result was a 47-40 U-M lead with8:47 left in the game.
Renee Taylor hit a big triple to trim the lead to four points,but Dierdorfwould later hitback-to-back jumpers, keeping the Michigan lead at 51-47 with5:51 to play. Cooper accounted for the next four U-M points, hitting huge free throws and scoring on a fast-break layup -- thanks to a steal by Dierdorf -- to put the Wolverines on top 55-49 with3:48 to go.
Miami was unable to draw closer than four points the rest of the way, as Michigan scored its final five points from the free throw line to seal the five-point triumph.
The Wolverines return to action thisWednesday (Dec. 6), traveling to Oxford, Ohio, to take on Miami (Ohio). Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Millett Hall, with radio coverage by WTKA (AM 1050).
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
