Friday, March 28, 2008

Women's Basketball team wins and plays MSU in the WNIT

from MGoBlue.com

Second-Half Surge Sends Michigan Past Southern Miss in WNIT

March 27, 2008
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Event: Postseason WNIT
Score: Michigan 59, Southern Miss 45
Records: U-M (19-13), Southern Miss (21-14)
Next Game: Sunday, March 30 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 2 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team earned a quarterfinal berth in the Postseason WNIT thanks to a 59-45 victory over Southern Miss Thursday evening (March 27) in Crisler Arena. The Wolverines (19-13) broke the game wide open with a 30-2 run over a span of 12:06 in the second half, and the U-M defense held the Lady Eagles (21-14) 27 points below their season average.

Juniors Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic HS) and Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) scored 13 points apiece to lead Michigan to its second win in four days. Senior Janelle Cooper (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance HS) chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and three assists. Junior Ashley Jones (Southfield, Mich./Martin Luther King HS) came up big once again, scoring all eight of her points during the key second-half run.

Just as they did in Monday's (March 24) second-round victory over Virginia Commonwealth, the Wolverines came out firing on all cylinders and jumped out to a 17-4 lead 7:30 into the contest thanks to 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Minnfield spearheaded the charge, knocking down back-to-back triples and a pair of free throws over a span of 3:09.

The Lady Eagles stormed back into contention, using a 14-2 run to cut the Michigan lead to 19-18 with 1:37 to play until the break. Sophomore Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate HS) closed out the first-half scoring with a basket at 1:26, and the Wolverines took a 21-18 advantage into the locker room.

Southern Miss found its rhythm early in the second half and took its first and only lead of the game, 27-25, on a three-point play by Andrea Barber at 14:44. Jones then took charge, as she came off the bench and drained her second triple of the season before scoring two more on a strong move in the lane. Jones’ inspired play proved to be the catalyst to a 30-2 outburst that vaulted U-M into a commanding 55-29 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. The Maize and Blue was able to capitalize on a number of transition opportunities, as the Lady Eagles went cold and hit just one of 11 attempts from the field and turned the ball over eight times during the Wolverine run. Skrba was the main benefactor, recording seven points.

Michigan never let the lead dip below 14 points the rest of the way, and U-M walked off the floor with its program-record 12th home win of the season.

The Wolverines will meet intra-state rival Michigan State in the Postseason WNIT quarterfinals on Sunday (March 30) at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start and can be heard live on radio station WTKA (AM 1050).

A bus trip is planned for the Michigan-Michigan State game. The cost per person is $10 and includes a ticket to the game. The bus is scheduled to leave Crisler Arena at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. To RSVP, please contact Katy Jackson at (734) 647-1261 or katjacks@umich.edu.

Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423

No comments:

GBMWolverine Counter

Total Pageviews