Notes & Quotes: Michigan 69, Ohio 64
12/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
N O T E S
With tonights win, Michigan moves to 4-1 all-time against Ohio and 71-49 against teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Wolverines are 2-0 against MAC teams this year, having defeated Akron (67-55) in the season opener on Nov. 10.
Michigan is 4-0 in Crisler Arena for the first time since 2002-03, when the Wolverines started their home schedule with six straight wins.
With the win, U-M moves to 7-3 heading into the Big Ten Conference season. The last time Michigan was four games over the .500 mark when it began league play was in 2002-03, when the Maize and Blue posted a 9-2 non-conference record.
With a pair of triples tonight, Krista Clement took over sole possession of 10th place on Michigans all-time three-pointers made list with 75. It was Clements 20th career multi-triple game and fourth this season.
Janelle Cooper went 1-of-2 from three-point range tonight. Cooper has hit at least one triple in all 10 games this year.
TaShia Walker scored 10 points, marking her team-leading 41st career double-digit scoring game (and fourth this season).
Carly Benson scored in double figures for the second straight game (and fourth this season) with 16 points. Benson has 15 career double-digit scoring games.
Carly Benson went 2-of-7 from three-point range tonight. Benson has 15 career multi-triple games, including four this season.
Carly Benson led U-M in rebounding (seven) for the sixth career game and second time this year.
Carly Benson played a career-high 39 minutes tonight. Benson's previous career best was 38, set against Penn State on Jan. 7, 2007.
Jessica Minnfield led the Wolverines in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 19 points. Minnfield has led Michigan in scoring five times in her career.
Jessica Minnfields 19 point-effort marked her 10th career double-digit game and fourth this season.
Jessica Minnfield went 1-of-3 from three-point range. Minnfield has hit as least one triple in seven of 10 games this year.
Jessica Minnfield led Michigan in assists (three) for the 31st career game and sixth time this season.
With three assists tonight, Jessica Minnfield moved into 20th place on U-Ms all-time assists list with 199.
Jessica Minnfield led the Wolverines in steals (three) for the 18th career game and third time this year.
Jessica Minnfield played the entire 40 minutes for the fifth time in her career.
Krista Phillips posted 11 points, marking her 12th career double-digit scoring game and fourth this season.
Krista Phillips tallied a game-high five blocks. Phillips has had at least five swats in three career games.
With five blocks tonight, Krista Phillips moved into 13th place on Michigans all-time blocks list with 55.
Michigan finished with four double-digit scorers for the third straight game (and fourth time this season). The Wolverines did not accomplish the feat once in 30 games last year.
Michigan set team season highs in free throw percentage (.875), steals (12) and blocks (six). U-M also had a season-low 12 turnovers.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Kevin Borseth
On the game "Ohio is good. They demonstrated that in the first half. They lit us up. We couldn't get our game going around the basket. In the second half, we made a couple and I thought our defense did a really good job of keeping them away from the rim. It looked really grim for a little while, so getting the victory was really nice."
On coming from behind for the win "We were grasping at straws at first. We changed sides with Krista Phillips down at the post to try something different. It worked. It was our last-ditch effort. We tried a lot of different things to get some baskets and we just weren't able to do it. I think Ohio fed off that. They got a lot of rhythm shots in the process. We kept getting in a deeper hole. As we started to make a couple in the second half, we started to chip away at them. It's nice for the kids to get the win."
On Jessica Minnfield's play "She played very hard tonight. She had a couple steals, and she took the ball to the basket a couple of times really hard. The kid wants to win. She is a competitor. She is one of our athletes. We need her to do well if we're to do well."
On the message to the athletes during the break "Merry Christmas. You have to go home and enjoy your family, that's really what it's all about. We're going to come back on the 26th and pick things back up to get ready for the Big Ten season. We have our work cut out for us with the Big Ten schedule. Enjoy it while you can. Come back ready to go."
U-M Senior Krista Clement
On the game "It was huge for us. I think we're all excited to go home for Christmas. There is nothing better than going home for Christmas with a win. I think everyone is really excited."
On her three-point shooting "I was missing shots early in the game and they just got me the shots in rhythm toward the end. A lot of people were here from my hometown and they're going to be there at Christmas. I would never hear the end of it if I missed every shot. It was nice for them."
On having a break "Coach Borseth just touched on how we need to stay in shape and not eat all the Christmas cookies. It will be a nice break for us."
U-M Junior Jessica Minnfield
On why Michigan won "We played team ball. We wanted it more. We came together at halftime and said 'we have to end on a good note and have a good Christmas.' We came together and played as a team and got a win."
On coming back from a deficit "We wanted it more. We're working hard in practice. We had a whole week of practice, working hard for two and a half hours. We just wanted it more."
On why she is playing so well "I'm just keeping my head up and keeping my teammates involved. I think I'm doing a good job of that."
