Michigan
4-2
Southern Mississippi
3-3
Minnfield's 23 Lead Wolverines to Win at Southern Miss
11/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Event: Southern Mississippi Lady Eagle Classic
Score: Michigan 61, Southern Mississippi, 51
Records: Michigan (4-2), Southern Mississippi (3-3)
Next U-M Event: Tuesday, Dec. 2 -- at Southern California,(Los Angeles, Calif.) 7 p.m. PST
Boxscore | Postgame Notes
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Seniors Jessica Minnfield(Toledo, Ohio/ Central Catholic) and Stephany Skrba(Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) combined for 43 points to lead the University of Michigan women's basketball team to a 61-51 win at Southern Mississippi tonight (Saturday, Nov. 29) in the championship game of the Lady Eagle Classic at Reed Green Coliseum.
Minnfield, who posted 33 points on the weekend and was a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, took home MVP honors. Skrba, who posted a career-high 20 points on nine-of-13 shooting from the floor, was named to the all-tournament team along with fellow senior Carly Benson (Carney, Mich. /Carney-Nadeau Public School) as the Wolverines claimed their first in-season tournament title since the 1999-00 season.
Minnfield started the second half off right where she finished the first half and extended Michigan's run to 12-0 with a jumper through the right side. Southern Mississippi responded with a three-pointer with 7:52 remaining to cut the U-M lead to 45-43 before Minnfield hit one of her three three-pointers on the afternoon to keep the Maize and Blue in the lead.
Southern Miss made it difficult late in the game with several key three-pointers, but Michigan held on for the victory.
The teams played an up-tempo game from the outset and traded buckets early on. Benson was able to give the Wolverines a little momentum early with back-to-back three-pointers, which opened up an 8-5 U-M lead early. The Lady Eagles were able to counter and used several quick baskets from Pauline Love to keep the Michigan lead at 10-9 at the 12:40 mark.
Rebounding was crucial in the contest and Benson was able to get the Wolverines going on the glass, recording five rebounds through the first 10 minutes of the game. The Lady Eagles stayed in the game, however, thanks to several transition baskets.
Midway through the half, Minnfield picked off a Southern Miss pass at the top of the key and took it down to the other end before dishing it off to Skrba, who laid the ball in and completed the three-point play with a free throw, keeping the Wolverines ahead, 19-14. The Lady Eagles responded and used several quick buckets to tie the game at 20-20, but nine straight points from Minnfield helped the Wolverines go into the break ahead, 30-23.
The Wolverines were able to capitalize on Southern Mississippi miscues in the first half and recorded 18 points off of turnovers and six second-chance points while outrebounding the Lady Eagles, 21-16.
Michigan continues its road swing with a trip to the West Coast this week. The Wolverines head to Los Angeles, Calif., to take on Southern California at 7 p.m. PST on Tuesday night (Dec. 2) at the Galen Center.
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
