Michigan
1-1
Akron
1-0
Michigan Falls Short at Akron
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Score: Akron 58, Michigan 49
Records: Michigan (1-1), Akron (1-0)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Nov. 20 -- Texas A&M (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.
Boxscore | Photo Gallery
AKRON, Ohio -- Seniors Carly Benson(Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public Schools) and Stephany Skrba(Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively, as the University of Michigan women's basketball team fell short at Akron 58-49 tonight (Monday, Nov. 17) at Rhodes Arena.
Benson's team-best scoring total came on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-8 from behind the arc. Sophomore Veronica Hicks(Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) led the team with a career-high seven rebounds, while freshman Carmen Reynolds(Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) made her collegiate debut and recorded five points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Michigan shot 38.5 percent (15-of-52) from the field as a team and pulled down 37 rebounds.
Akron's Kyle Baumgartner led all scorers with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the game's lone double-double. Teammate Ashley Veal was also in double figures with 12 points.
After trailing at halftime, 26-23, Akron found its offense as it opened the floor and forced U-M into several miscues, including 13 turnovers leading to eight points on the other end. The Akron bench played a big role in the win, outscoring Michigan 23-3 in a tight second half in which neither team held a lead of more than four points in the early portion of the frame. Akron was then able to take advantage of Michigan fouls and turnovers, taking a 47-38 lead with a 5-0 run with just under five minutes remaining and never looked back on the way to the 58-49 win.
Both teams struggled from the floor early, combining for one field goal through the first three minutes of the game, but the Wolverines used their defense to keep the Zips off the board until a free throw at the 16:18 mark.
The Zips missed nine straight shots from the floor before a bucket in the paint from Kara Murphy gave Akron its first field goal of the night. The bucket gave the Zips a little momentum as their offense caught fire, tallying 12 points to cut the Michigan lead to 19-17 at the six-minute mark.
Akron took advantage of its transition game to run the floor and got several points off the fast break to take its first lead of the game at the 3:50 mark before two straight U-M buckets in the paint and a charge from senior Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) gave a little momentum to the Wolverines, who went into the break with a 26-23 lead.
Skrba led the Wolverines with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field in the first half, while Hicks led the way on the glass with four rebounds.
The Wolverines open the home portion of the 2008-09 slate on Thursday (Nov. 20) at 7 p.m. when they welcome Texas A&M to Crisler Arena. The game will be shown on a tape-delay basis on the Big Ten Network with coverage set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Fans can also catch the action on WLBY AM 1290 and on the worldwide web at MGoBlue.com with Matt Park and Nick Brandon on the call
N O T E S
Michigan used the starting lineup of Jessica Minnfied, Carly Benson, Stephany Skrba, Melinda Queen and Veronica Hicks. Minnfield made her 81st career start, Benson made her 70th career start, while Skrba made her 37th career start. Hicks started for the second time in her career.
The Wolverines and Zips have met on three previous occasions with Michigan now holding a 3-1 series lead. Akron has a 2-11 record against teams from the Big Ten. Before tonight's win its lone win came in overtime contest at Indiana in 1998.
For the second consecutive game, the Wolverines had more than one player in double digits. Last game, the Wolverines had four players in double figures.
With the loss, the Wolverines drop to a 71-49 record against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
Ohio native Carmen Reynolds made her collegiate debut at the 12:09 mark of the half and scored her first career points, two free throws at the 10:36 mark of the first half. Reynolds, who grew up in Hilliard, Ohio, had 23 family members in attendance.
Veronica Hicks had her first career block at the 10:50 mark of the first half and ended the game with a game- and career-high three blocks.
Jessica Minnfield has a streak of eight consecutive free throws going before missing her first free throw of the season at the 5:46 mark.
Both freshmen that have seen action for the Wolverines this season, Carmen Reynolds and Courtney Boylan, have nailed their first shots, both three-pointers.
With her three three-pointers, Carly Benson now has 65 career pointers, placing her eight shy from entering the top 10 all-time at Michigan.
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
