Who was the first CCHA player to win the Hobey Baker Award? (For answer, see page 2) M f Fi ttl Athlete of the Week Albany Times/Union Hockey Poll Indoor Track Q&A Blame it on Niyo Men's Basketball Hockey Women's Basketball Women's Swimming Gymnastics 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 N D A Y Wolverines pass the Buckeyes 'M' survives scare in Columbus, 66-64 Talent finishes Fisher's streak COLUMBUS - It was news to Steve Fisher. "I didn't even realize it until you told me," he replied to the writer who informed him that his team's win yesterday was his first at St. John Arena. And to be honest, it's not too surprising - the losing streak, that is. Because for the first time in his tenure, Fisher brought a squad that Ken not only had a chance to win, but Sugiura also should have won. Which they did, 66-64. Last season, Michigan came to Columbus as a band of young whippersnappers. They were raw talent, who weren't ready for the rigors of the Big Ten play on the road against the defending Sxconference champs. o It showed,- as the Buckeyes broke n down the upstarts, and pulled away for a 77-66 victory. The year before that, if Fisher's cupboards weren't bare, then suffice it to say, the cupboards were in dire need of restocking. Michigan got throttled, and were Jimmy Jacksoned back to Ann Arbor, on the wrong end of a 81-65 score. In 1990, the defending NCAA champion Wolverines and defending Big Ten champion Buckeyes fought at even strength, and Ohio State stole a 64-61 decision from Michigan. Two of the three years, Randy Ayers' club was the favorite - i.e. had more talent - and won. The other year, it was a wash, and the Buckeyes pulled it out. So finally Fisher came to town with a clearly better club - his Wolverines are No. 5 in the country, while the Buckeyes have sunk to ninth in the Big Ten. Forget those who think coaches are the be-all and end-all. When it comes down to it, it's a players' game, and the best usually win. Bob Knight is a mastermind you say? Let him coach Northwestern for a week. All the masterminds in the world won't give the 'Cats a fighting chance in the Big See SUGIURA, Page 4 by Ken Davidoff Daily Basketball Writer COLUMBUS - The Michigan men's basketball team's spring break could favorably be compared to the early eighties dumb teenage film "Spring Break." In both circumstances, the protagonist had to overcome difficult obstacles - whether it was the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Ohio State Buckeyes, or a corrupt, out-of-touch stepfather - and in both cases, a happy ending occurred. The Wolverines (11-3 Big Ten, 22-4 overall) sandwiched their week of rest with an 84-69 victory over Minnesota (7-8, 15-9) Saturday, Feb. 20 at Crisler Arena, and a 66-64 tri- umph over Ohio State (6-9, 13-11) yesterday in Columbus. The contest in Columbus proved to be one of Michigan's toughest victories of the season. Down 36-31 at the break, the Wolverines came* back with a strong second half, but they never led by more than five. "I thought it was a tenaciously fought game for both sides," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. "I'm thrilled to get in and out with a victory." With Michigan leading 61-56, Buckeye guard Derek Anderson stole an errant Chris Webber pass and slammed it home with 3:04 left in the second half, inspiring the St. John Arena crowd to achieve its volume zenith. Michigan called a timeout, but after Jalen Rose threw a pass out of bounds, Anderson returned with two free throws on a Ray Jackson foul. With Michigan clinging to a one- point lead, Jackson strolled through the lane for a surprisingly simple finger roll. "We let Ray Jackson get that easy score," Ohio State forward Lawrence Funderburke said. "We had the game. We just gave it to them." The Buckeyes immediately called a timeout, and when play began, Funderburke missed a difficult twelve-foot jumper. Jackson hauled down the rebound and quickly drew the foul from Funderburke. "We wanted to try to get the ball to the basket right there," Ohio State coach Randy Ayers said. "Lawrence ended up taking the best shot we could take on that possession." Jackson missed the front end of the one-and-one, but Buckeye guard Greg Simpson missed a three-point attempt, locking up the victory for the Wolverines. Rose hit three free throws, and after Anderson made a layup with seven seconds remaining to make it 66-64, the Wolverines merely held on to the ball as the buzzer sounded. "Michigan stepped up late in the game," Ayers said. "Jackson's drive and, of course, the free throws at the end of the game really sealed the game for them." After the first half, the Buckeyes seemed like the only club that would be doing any sealing. Ohio State did See OHIO STATE, page 4 Michigan's Ray Jackson and Jalen Rose try to steal the ball from Ohio State's Derek Anderson during yesterday's game in Columbus. .. . . ...... ....... .. 9 The Victors ... for a seventh consecutive time Swimmers roll a seven Women tankers take Big Ten championship again by Wendy Law Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's swimming and diving team saw purple the last two days of the Big Ten Championships (Feb. 19-20) as it competed neck-and- neck with archrival Northwestern for the meet champion- ship at Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines pulled victory from the Wildcats' claws, winning the meet 676-628 - a decidedly closer margin than last year's Michigan domination over the Wildcats, 887-463. Little overall competition was seen from the rest of the field. Ohio State (436), Penn State (378), Purdue (356), and Minnesota (327) snagged the third through sixth spots. The last five places were filled by Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan State. With this win, Michigan clinched its seventh straight Big Ten title and set a record in women's athletics. No other women's team has ever accumulated seven con- secutive championship victories. "I think two or three days from now, I'll realize more how special (this victory) was," Michigan coach Jim Richardson said. "It wasn't easy. It was the hardest of the (seven). It was a total team effort - diving and swim- ming together - which is the way it should be." Michigan swept six events and finished strongly in five others to take the title. In one of the closest races of the meet, senior Kirsten Silvester, sophomores Lara Hooiveld, Alecia Humphrey, and freshman Beth Jackson defended Michigan's title in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:42.40, estab- lishing a Big Ten meet-record and qualifying the relay team for the NCAA Championships. Northwestern fin- ished second in 1:42.71. "I knew we were going to win because the backstro- ker and breaststroker we have are national quality and Northwestern doesn't have that type of quality right now," Silvester said. "(Northwestern is) great. They're swimming awesome. I have all the respect for them, but I know our back and breaststroker are just better. I knew that we were going to be leading (the 200 medley) and I knew that we could win it." Senior Mindy Gehrs qualified as well for NCAAs See TANKERS, page 7 Alecia Humphrey celebrates with teammates after setting a Big Ten record in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:56.15. The Wolverines sweptthe event with Beth Jackson and Jennifer Almeida finishing second and third respectively. The event, held on the final day of competition, helped Michigan pull away from a feisty Northwestern squad and capture their seventh consecutive Big Ten championship. - I * lers down Lakers, 5-3, clinch second in CCHA Blue 's by Jaeson Rosenfeld Daily Basketball Writer Mighty Hail' Stacie Mc Call by Andy De Korte Daily Sports Writer Big leads have been common for the Wolverine hockey team during the stretch drive of the CCHA sea- son. Going into last Friday's game against Lake Superior, the last nine 0 Michigan victories had been by an average of seven goals, with the overtime loss to Miami the only close game in the last 10. The 5-3 victory against the Lak- ers, including a empty net goal by Dan Stiver, was just what Michigan coach Red Berenson said his team needed. "A lot of the last few games have been won in the first period and that * didn't happen tonight and we needed "I think it's great because it shows if we play our best we can beat these guys," Michigan goalie Steve Shields said. "I've got the last two years to make up for and coach has the ten years before, so its good that we have finally caught them." In stark contrast to last year's 10-0 shellacking in Sault Ste. Marie to which he referred, Shields' strong play early it the game played an integral part in the Wolverine victory, stopping 11 shots in the first two periods. Michigan's fast-paced, hard-hitting game gained a more defensive posture as it continued. In the final period Michigan took control of the play, taking 16 shots while limiting the Lakers to five. When life hands Stacie McCall a lemon, she makes lemonade. "She always sees the bright side of everything," teammate Shimmy Gray said of McCall, Michigan's senior point guard. "When I was struggling early this season she told me, 'Things aren't always as bad as they seem.'" It is exactly that attitude that got McCall where she is today. For if she had listened to her detractors, McCall would never have worn a Michigan uniform. "People always used to say, 'Stacie's good, but she's too small,"' McCall said. "People said I directs women cagers Mite stature as a disadvantage, McCall saw it as a way to get ahead of the taller girls, who wouldn't take the time to work as hard. With the help of her father, William, McCall made up for her lack of size with strength. "My dad and I would get up (to lift weights) in the morning while the other girls were sleeping," McCall said. "He used to say, 'You're going to be that much more ahead of everybody else."' "I used to tell her, 'You may be the shortest, but this (weight training) is going to make you a foot taller,"' McCall's father said. "She was stronger than a lot of the guys."