8 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 23, 1993

Women cagers open at
home against TTT Riga

By BRENT McINTOSH
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
You can be pretty sure that
"Shoot the rock" and "Grab the
board" do not translate literally into
Latvian.
You can also be pretty sure that,
despite the lack of a literal transla-
tion, the Michigan women's basket-
ball team and TTT Riga of Latvia
both place a lot of emphasis on
shooting and rebounding.
Those two facts, though, are just
about the sum total of what you can
be sure of in tonight's exhibition
game between the intercontinental
adversaries at 7:30 in Crisler Arena.
The Latvian team was added to
the Wolverine schedule six weeks
ago as a substitute for the Slovenian
National Team, who, like its na-
tional men's team, was not able to
tour the United States.
The Latvian roster is full of ques-
tion marks. In fact, it is even sub-
titled "subject to change." Statistics
for the team are unavailable, as are
the backgrounds of the players. They
are, though, generally members of
either the Latvian national or junior
national teams.
If TTT Riga is a bit mysterious,
then the Wolverine team that will
take the floor is a full-fledged

enigma. The Wolverines are young
- their average age is barely 18
while the Latvians average almost
21 - and inexperienced. The only
upperclassman on the Wolverine
roster is junior captain Yeshimbra
Gray, who turns 21 today. In con-
trast, the oldest Latvian is 6-foot-4
center Olga Kartjanovica at 27.
Michigan returns a total of 10.7
points per game from last year's
team (1-17 Big Ten, 2-25 overall),
with Gray contributing 7.9 and
sophomore forward Jennifer
Brzezinski, who played only nine
games due to a season-ending knee
injury, providing the rest.
Along with those two and sopho-
more walk-on Angie Mustonen, who
is playing her first season for Michi-
gan, six freshmen fill out the Wol-
verine roster. Simple math shows
that at least three players will make
their Michigan debut tonight. That
number will probably be closer to
seven by the time the game comes to
a close.
"You can call this a 'season of
questions' looking at the number of
new faces on the roster," coach Trish
Roberts said. "We have a lot of
players who are going to get a lot of
playing time."

Emotions high despite
unknown bowl game
By ANDY DE KORTE
DAILY FOOTBALL WRITER
All fired up and no place to go. Not yet, anyway.
After seeing his team play its best game of the year, Michigan football
coach Gary Moeller had little doubt the Wolverines had hit their stride.
"The game obviously, was a great game for us," Moeller said. "I told the
team after the Purdue game that we had to keep it going like that, and we did."
After being dormant for so long the Wolverines' emotions finally
erupted. The defense swarmed over the field, recording sacks and intercep-
tions like they were going out of style.
Ty Law, who had two interceptions against Ohio State, garnered the Big
Ten defensive player-of-the-week award, and the defensive tenacity pleased
Moeller as much as anything else.
"Our defense just flew around, yet they were everywhere," Moeller said.
"It would rank as one of the top emotional games since I've been at Michigan.
I would say we were higher than them. There was never a momentum change
in the game."
Now Michigan will need to keep the momentum going into a bowl game.
While nothing has been set, the most likely postseason appearance will be The
Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
The bid could come as early as today, Hall of Fame Bowl representative
Bernie Epstein said Saturday.
The decision is being delayed to avoid upsetting other Big Ten teams who
are possible candidates for the game, including Michigan State and Indiana.
If the team does accept a New Year's Day bowl game, it will begin
practicing for the matchup around Dec. 12 and depart Ann Arbor Christmas
Day.
Since Moeller cannot start watching films of his next opponent, he can
concentrate even more on one of his other responsibilities. To keep the
Michigan football dynasty on track, he will soon return to the recruiting
trail.
He and his assistants can scout high school players anytime but cannot talk
face to face with them until Dec. 1 and can do so for only 14 days. The process
then resumes again in January, and recruits can begin signing with their
respective schools on Feb. 2.
INJURY REPORT: Ironically, injuries, the sore spot of the team all season, did
not bother the Wolverines after two of the most physical games of year.
"We got tougher," Moeller said. "Maybe when you hit harder the pain goes
to the other team."
Although tailback Tyrone Wheatley suffered a mild concussion against
Ohio State, he felt fine by the end of the game.
However, not everyone will be available for postseason activity. Both
linebacker Marcus Walker, who had reconstructive knee surgery last week,
and defensive tackle Ninef Aghakhan, who had surgery to reattach a tendon in
his arm, will miss bowl action.

1

DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily
The aggressive play of defensive backs Ty Law (22) and Alfie Burch was a
key to Michigan's blowout win over Ohio State.


KICKERS
Continued from page 7
got a little lax at the end."
Arizona did not represent the end
of the tough draws for Michigan. In
the second game they had to play
defending national club champion
North Texas.
The Wolverines jumped outto a
1-0 lead on a corner kick from
Michelle McQuaid. However, North
Texas would come back to tie the
game and eventually win it, 2-1, on a

penalty shot.
"Our goalie dove the right way,
but she hit an awesome penalty shot.
We were pretty down after the game,"
Taylor said. "We thought we were out
of it, but the way our bracket was
going, everyone was beating every-
one else."
Colorado State had beaten Ari-
zona, 2-1, so Michigan still had a
glimmer of hope heading into its third
game, against Colorado State if it
could emerge victorious.
Junior Karen Jones, who made the
all-tournament team, scored two goals

in the Wolverines' 3-2 victory.
With the triumph, the Wolverines
remained in the hunt for a trip to the
semifinals. Their fate was placed in
the hands of North Texas.
If North Texas defeated Arizona
by two goals or more, Michigan could
advance based on goal differential.
However, the Wildcats prevailed,
sending the Wolverines back to Ann
Arbor.
"It seems like in the last 20 min-
utes of each game we were just re-
ally tired and unfocused," McQuaid
said. "Peoplejust weren'tdoing their

part.
"No one was moving up and we
weren't playing team offense or
team defense. The whole tourna-
ment was just a big letdown."
The Wolverines, who closed out
their season at 23-4, gain varsity sta-
tus next season. The varsity coach
will be chosen Dec. 1.
"We're really excited to go var-
sity," McQuaid said. "It would have
been great to come away with a na-
tional championship coming into our
varsity season, but it didn't workout."


SOCCER
Continued from page 7
fell behind eventual semifinal quali-
fier Texas A&M, 1-0 at the half, and
were unable to rebound after that. The
Aggies took advantage of a Michigan
lapse that resulted in two additional
tallies. The games ended 4-0 in favor

of A&M.
"We had a real good game plan
going in," Burns said. "But they start-
ing making some adjustments in the
second half. After the second goal,
our heads went down a little. There
was a mental breakdown forabout ten
or fifteen minutes."
"They had two very, very strong
players who were both players on the

Virginia national championship team
in 1991," Burns added.
As good as Texas A&M was,
Michigan held its own in the contest,
leaving just about everyone wonder-
ing how it ended up losing by four.
"The referee as it turns out said
'Hey, I thought you guys were going
to win that game,"' Burns said. "A lot
of the fans and other teams on the

sideline saw (the parity). We were
really miffed. We're not known as a
strong starting team when it comes to
our tournament play."
In reward of the Michigan's abil-
ity to bounce back in the tournament,
a number of Wolverines were named
to the All-Tournament team. Junior
halfback Dave Nordwall was selected
to the first team. Earning second-
team honors were senior forward
Metzger and senior goalie Piercarlo
Romano. Senior forward Kelly
Kuehne and junior defenseman Chris
Bruner were named to the the third
team. Senior sweeper Brian
Rosewarne and Rindfusz were hon-
orable mentions.

Bowl picture
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bobby Bowden has never won a
national championship, and neither
has Tom Osborne. That could
change on New Year's Day.
If top-ranked Florida State and
No.2 Nebraska win their final regu-
lar-season games, Bowden's Semi-
noles will play Osborne's
Cornhuskers for the national cham-
pionship in the Orange Bowl.
Florida State (10-1) must beat
No. 7 Florida (9-1) Saturday at
Gainesville, where the Gators have
a 23-game winning streak. And Ne-
braska (10-0) must beat No. 16 Okla-
homa (8-2) on Friday.
"If we didn't have that one more
ballgame, I guess I'd be jumping up
and down and hollering," Bowden
said.
"We've had some stuff bounce
our way this season, and we hope it

still unclear
keeps bouncing our way," Osborne
said. "We're certainly pleased with
that opportunity, but it's a chance and
that's all it is."
Bowden and Osborne have never
finished first. Osborne just missed in
1983, when Nebraska was No. I all
season until a 31-30 loss to Miami in
the Orange Bowl. Bowden's Florida
State teams have finished in the top 4
the past six years, but losses to Miami
probably cost the Seminoles several
titles.
"You don't have to say anything
to the kids," Bowden said. "They
know what's at stake."
Nebraska hasn't won a national
title since 1971.
"I think our players are mature
enough to understand that right now
it's a ranking and it doesn't mean
much until the final one," Osborne
said.

01

I I

EIN
COSTNER
EAST OOD
a~erfCtE

i

RUNNERS
Continued from page 7
Georgetown, finished with 199 points.
"It was suspenseful for Villanova
and Arkansas," McGuire said. "It was
about ten minutes before they sorted
through the results. Both those teams,
though, just dominated the rest of the
field."
Other top finishers were Cornell
and Providence with 205 and 213
points respectively.
The Wildcats also managed to
snare the individual title in addition to
their team crown. Villanova's Carol
Zajac repeated as champion with a
time of 16:40.3. Finishing second
was teammate Carol Rhines in a time

of 16:44. She was followed by Kate
Gooch of Oklahoma in 16:47.
Although the day was disappoint-
ing for the team, some Wolverines
could not see the day as a total loss.
Michigan's three time All-Ameri-
can, Molly McClimon, concluded
her stellar career with a fourth-place
finish in a time of 16:48.4, making
her the highest finisher in Michigan
cross-country history at the NCAA
Championships.
Courtney Babcock also turned
in an impressive individual perfor-
mance, finishing 13th with a time of
16:59.9. The sophomore's perfor-
mance earned her All-America hon-
ors.
"Our two bright spots were the

performances of Molly and
Courtney," McGuire said. "They
both achieved All-American status
with those performances."
Chris Szabo ended the race 59th,
with a clocking of 17:36.3. Karen
Harvey crossed the line 105th with
a time of 18:07.4, while Jessica
Kluge, with a time of 18:10.4, fin-
ished 111th. Molly Lori and Katie
Hollbacher were the final pair of
Wolverines to cross the finish line,
130th and 176th, respectively.
"We're a little disappointed,"
McGuire said. " But overall I think
we had a tremendous season and got
a lot of things done with winning
the Big Ten a second time and win-
ning the Districts."

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