Notes & Quotes: Michigan 63, Iowa 46
12/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
N O T E S
With todays win, Michigan improves to 11-37 all-time against Iowa. The victory snapped U-Ms seven-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes dating back to 2002-03.
Todays victory gave the Wolverines a win in their Big Ten opener for the first time in six years. Michigans last victory to open league play was during the 2000-01 season, a 68-57 road win over Illinois on Dec. 28.
Todays win puts the Wolverines five games over the .500 mark (8-3) for the first time since 2002-03, when the Maize and Blue opened the year with a 9-2 record.
Todays victory moved Michigan to 5-0 at home for the first time since 2002-03, when U-M started its home schedule with six straight wins.
Kevin Borseth is 2-1 against Iowa in his head coaching career.
With a game-high six assists today, Jessica Minnfield moved into 18th place on Michigans all-time assists list with 205.
With a game-high three blocks today, Krista Phillips moved into 12th place on Michigans all-time blocked shots list with 58.
Janelle Cooper went 3-of-6 from three-point range against Iowa. She has hit at least one triple in all 11 games this year. Cooper has a team-leading 29 career multi-triple performances.
Krista Clement went 2-of-3 from three-point range against the Hawkeyes. She has 21 career multi-triple games, including five this year. Clement has shot a combined 59 percent (10-of-17) from long range in the last four games.
Krista Clement (12 points) reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time in her career and the third game this season.
Janelle Cooper (13 points) reached double digits in scoring for the 33rd time in her career and the fifth game this year.
Janelle Cooper led U-M in scoring for the 21st time in her career and the third game this season.
Jessica Minnfield led the Wolverines in assists (six) for the 32nd time in her career and the seventh game this year.
Jessica Minnfield led U-M in steals (three) for the 19th time in her career and the fourth game this season.
Melinda Queen scored a season-high eight points against the Hawkeyes. She also hit her 10th career three-pointer.
Krista Phillips posted her first career double-double, finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds. It was the second double-double by a U-M player this year (Stephany Skrba).
Krista Phillips set career highs in both rebounds (13) and assists (four) against Iowa.
Krista Phillips posted a game-high three blocks, marking the 22nd career game in which she has led the team in that category (eighth game this season). Phillips has tallied at least three blocks in a game eight times in her career.
Krista Phillips (12 points) reached double figures in scoring for the 13th time in her career and the fifth time this season.
Krista Phillips led the Wolverines in rebounding for the 10th time in her career and the fourth game this year.
Michigan is 4-0 this season when Jessica Minnfield, Krista Clement, Janelle Cooper, Carly Benson and Krista Phillips start the game.
The Wolverines won after trailing at the half (26-24) for the second straight game.
U-Ms bench outscored its opponents for the sixth time this season, 14-3.
Michigan had at least three double-digit scorers for the fourth straight game.
The Wolverine defense limited Iowa to just 21 percent (4-of-19) shooting from three-point range. The Hawkeyes entered the game shooting a league-best 40 percent.
QUOT E S
Michigan Head Coach Kevin Borseth
On todays game "Obviously were pleased with the way the game turned out. I thought we played pretty hard, and we needed to, because Iowa has a bigger team. Its a good way to get the Big Ten season started."
On winning the Big Ten opener "Any time you get a chance to win, you win and then move onto the next game. Right now our focus is going to be on Ohio State, so this one gets put behind us. Its good to be able to reap the benefits of hard work in practice. There are no guarantees that the next game is just going to fall in your lap. We have to take it one play at a time and one game at a time."
On the big second-half run "I couldnt really tell if they were just missing shots or if it was our defense that was making stops. I just know that if you stop them on one end of the floor, its a lot easier for your offense on the other end. Maybe it could have gone either way, but thats what happened in this game."
On Krista Phillips "Krista is getting better. I dont think youve seen anywhere near what her full capability is. If we can get her to move her feet defensively a little bit, it will really help her. We told her during timeouts to move her feet because every time Iowa got the ball deep in the post, we got in trouble. Offensively, Krista has a nice touch and she understands the game. Shes a bear on the boards. We didnt rebound well as a team, but she did. That was important for us."
On Michigans ability to limit its turnovers "You have to take care of the ball, thats really the bottom line. If you dont take care of it, the other team is going to get lay-ups. Its always a point of emphasis. If you want to move the ball fluidly, youre going to have to take care of it. Were a little more comfortable with that, but not anywhere near where we need to be."
U-M Senior Krista Clement
On coming back from the holiday break and getting a win "Its a really nice feeling. We were excited to get back and play games. Weve been practicing for a week straight, so a win feels really good."
On how the team feeds off Kevin Borseth and the other coaches "We get most of our energy from him. The entire coaching staff is very competitive and very passionate about the game, and that carries over to the players on the team."
On what Krista Phillips has brought to the team "Krista has been the ultimate helper for us. Shell come on the weak-side and get some big blocks. She just brings a lot of energy. When she starts demanding the ball and goes up strong, shes tough to stop."
U-M Senior Janelle Cooper
On getting her first Big Ten season-opening win "Since Ive been here, I never had a chance to win a Big Ten opener. It feels really good and gives me a lot of excitement heading forward into the season. We all know that we can do something in the conference this year."
On why the team is playing so well right now "I think everyone is very focused right now. Were really buying into the new system. If things arent going the way we like it out there, we make sure we keep each other confident. That way we can pick it right back up and make a lot of good things happen."
On Michigans solid ball distribution "Its just a matter of moving the ball around better. Everyone knows what theyre supposed to do and we know where everyone is going to be on the court. If someone penetrates, they can easily kick it out to someone else who may be spotting up in the corner ready to shoot."
U-M Sophomore Krista Phillips
On opening the Big Ten season on a winning note "Obviously its going to bring our confidence up, but Coach Borseth told us that its just one win and we have a long way to go. We have big plans, and were going to keep battling. Today means a great amount, but were looking at Ohio State right now and getting ready for that."
On what was responsible for the second-half run "We were locking down on defense. When we play better defense, it helps create our offense. Were getting shots in rhythm and scoring under the basket. I think our defense led to the run."
On the back-and-forth play in the first half "It was tough. We had to battle just like we have all year. We have to keep playing if we get down. Like coach said, we have to play to win instead of playing not to lose."
