WOMEN EYE BIG TEN The Michigan Daily-Friday, February 13; 1981-Page 11 C Cagers face uphill By LARRY FREED Special to the Daily EVANSTON-Michigan's men's basketball team is not the only one to :find itself involved in a tight conference race; the Wolverine women cagers are alsso involved in a closely-bunched Big Ten field. Unlike Bill Frieder's outfit, however, the women find themselves looking up at most of its competition in the standings. The hoopsters have a chance to avenge some narrow defeats from earlier in the season this weekend though, when they compete in the Big leer fai - b By MARTHA CRALL "Michigan is flying. They're the favorites here." That is the attitude that head coach has Hendrickson and his Minnesota- ,buluth hockey team is taking into this '* ekend's series with the Wolverines, vw3ich the Bulldogs are hosting. pULUTH HAS been in a slump of te, losing five of its last six WCHA ontests. The Wolverines, on the other 1hnd, have won three in a row, in- Ten Championship at Northwestern's McGaw Memorial Hall. The Wolverines (7-13 overall, 1-4 in the Big Ten) face the Purdue Boiler- makers (7-13, 1-4) today in their opening round match. The winner of this game takes on the two-time defen- ding champion, second-seeded North- western Wildcats (12-7, 4-1). "We have a super chance in winning the first game, if we could just get over the hump," said coach Gloria Soluk. "It gives the players a big boost, knowing they don't have to face the top seed (Minnesota) if they win their opening round match." The Wolverines will once again start with a line-up of forwards Diane Dietz (19.9 ppg.), and Abby Currier (10.0), center Patrice Donovan (4.3), and guards Lori Gnatkowski (10.2) and K.D. Harte (8.8). "Now that we are getting over our early season injuries, we can use a more con- sistent line-up which will help our chan- ces," Soluk said. Michigan must overcome a significant disadvantage underneath the boards against the taller, more physical Boilermakers, led by their ce-off with UMD climb forwards, Laura Newcomb and Sue Bartz. Should the Wolverines be successful against Purdue today they will come right back and battle the Wildcats tonight. But Soluk was not overly concerned about the fatigue factor. "I don't feel that playing two games in one day will hurt us, because the team will be pum- ped up from winning their opener," she said. The Wildcats are led by All-Big Ten forward Julie Callahan, who is averaging 22.9 points per game for Nor- thwestern. In addition to Callahan, for- ward Amy Prichard and center Patien- ce Vanderbush also sport double-figure scoring averages for the Wildcats, who are currently second in the conference. In the previous matchup between the two teams, the Wildcats routed a cold- shooting Wolverine attack, 66-46. "Northwestern's goal is to win another Big Ten tournament, Wildcat coach Annette Lynch said. "It will be a difficult task, but not an impossible one. We've been playing well in our last four games, and we're peaking at just the right time." Minnesota (19-4, 5-0) is the favorite to capture the top prize, while Indiana (18- 0, 4-2), Illinois (17-5, 4-2), Ohio State (10- 9, 3-2), and Michigan State (10-7, 2-4 round out the seeded teams. Saturday, March 7, 8p.m. is coming! cluding a sweep of Notre Dame last weekend. Michigan coach John Giordano is wary of the Bulldogs, however. "After two losses to Denver, they're. going to be fit to be tied," Giordano said. "We're expecting them to be very aggressive.,, The Bulldogs (9-13 in the WCHA) have been without the services of their number one goalie, senior Bill Perkl, for the last two weeks, and they are also missing their only senior defenseman, alternate captain Tom Madson. BUT GIORDANO expects the Duluth offense, which tallied 10 goals against Denver last weekend, to make up for any defensive deficiencies. Michigan's offense has come to life in the last two weeks, as well. The Wolverines have scored 31 goals in the last four games, including 12 against the Irish last Friday night, the biggest one-night scoring burst for a Michigan hockey team since a 13-3 win over Western Ontario in 1967-68. "'We've got to use more defense, while not losing any aggressiveness in the offensive zone if we're going to play well," said Giordano. Although a few icers have contracted the flu, Giordano said they are healthy and ready to play. For Jeff Mars, the series will carry special significance-it is the last collegiate hockey games that he will play in his home town. In Mars' two previous trips to Duluth Michigan has gone winless, but the senior right winger is optimistic about this weekend's series. "This is our chance," Mars said. "Our team is playing really well. A lot of people I know will be watching. And it's always nice to play well in that situation." The optimism of Mars and his team- mates and the apprehension of Hen- drickson will be tested on the ice tonight and tomorrow in a series that could move the Wolverines from sixth place into a tie for fourth in the conference and assure them a playoff berth. Visa, Master Charge, MESSA, PCS, Blue Cross, Travelers, MediMet 1112 South University 663-5533 1 Visa MaterChare, ESS, PS, Bue ros, TavelrsMed~et 112Souh Uiverity663553 01980 Beer Brewed by Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Mars ... going home IM Scores WEDNESDAY Basketball' Independent (competitive) Class A. Triangle "A" 40, Alpha Sigma Phi "A" 33 The GC's 34, The Uppers 33 Independent Army ROTC 35, Axe Murderers 22 160 Slobbs 26, MMB 24 Allen Rumsey Gold 24, Poster Children 21 Fraternity "A" Class A Phi Betta Sigma 43, Sigma Alpha Mu "A" 38 Fiji "A" 41, Theta Delta Chi 34 CLASS B Evans Scholars "A" 44, Phi Kappa Alpha "A" 33 Womens Competitive Class A King Pins 30. Mud 26 Class B Barbour "A" 36, Bursley Playrittes 8 Womens Rec AFROTC 20, Kappa Kappa Gamma 10 Amaggeddon 2, Delta Gamma 0 (forfeit) Graduate Class A Law Gold 40, Trash 36 MBA Gold 44, Nine-O-Silver 42 Graduate Class B Med-2 42, DSD "C" 37 Ramblin Rebels 45, Invisible Heads 35 REFERENCE~ r I . l11 { II fm 4 ,.1 - They come from all over. a Because complete we have one of the largest and most selection of reference and professional books anywhere. Now comes Ut