6 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, March 14, 1994
Purdue loss caps a blue year
By BRENT McINTOSH
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITER
If a whole season could be con-
densed into a single game, the Michi-
gan women's basketball team's contest
with Purdue Saturday was that game.
This year's campaign seemed to
be condensed into forty discourag-
ing, fast-paced minutes. Just like so
many other games, the Wolverines
shot out to an early lead. And just like
those same games, the team could not
maintain its lead.
Purdue triumphed by a final score
of 110-51, the greatest number of
points ever given up by a Wolverine
squad in Big Ten play.
Not that Michigan was expected
to maintain the lead, of course. The
No. 10 Boilermakers (16-2 Big Ten,
25-4 overall) needed only to beat the
young Wolverines (0-18, 3-24) to
clinch a Big Ten co-championship.
Michigan's only incentive was to
avoid becoming the first women's
basketball team in Big Ten history to
finish the conference season winless.
Both happened with Purdue's easy
victory.
"We were motivated today to win
the Big Ten championship - every
player on our team, every manager
and every coach," Purdue coach Lin
Dunn said. "We talked about taking
care of business, and that's exactly
what we did today."
The Boilermakers looked sluggish
early, allowing the Wolverines a 10-3
lead after a textbook two-on-one be-
tween Michigan captain Shimmy Gray,
who was playing in her last game, and
freshman guard Jennifer Kiefer.
"We kind of wanted to win and get
it over with," Purdue guard Cindy
Lamping said. "I know that I missed
a few of easy shots. Once we calmed
down and did what we needed to do,
we were fine."
"Fine" is exactly what the remain-
der of the game was for the Old Gold
and Black. Purdue scored the next 13
points and outscored the Wolverines
48-18 for the rest of the half.
The second half was no better.
Michigan scored only two points in
the first nine-and-a-half minutes, com-
pared to 29 for the Boilermakers.
"They're a very good team,"
Michigan coach Trish Roberts said.
"They've got strength. They've got
quickness. They've got power.
They've got shooters. They've got
depth. They've got all the things that
we lack."
The game, and the Wolverines'
season, was epitomized by one ordi-
nary play with 15 minutes to go in the
game. Kiefer threw a routine pass to
her rookie back-court counterpart,
Amy Johnson. Johnson took her eye
off the ball, and it took a funny bounce
off her hands, over her head and out of
bounds.
It wasn't really a problem. It was
just one turnover. The frustration filling
Johnson's head finally took its toll,
though. With fists clenched, she let out
an emotion-filled scream. Her display
wasn't about that one bad play -it was
a culmination of a season filled with
missed expectations, frustrations and
disappointments.
Within aminute of Johnson's foul-
up, Purdue hit two long three-point-
ers making the count 69-30.
The rest of the game was played
without much defense. What defense
there was led to fouls. The game ended
with Boilermaker freshman forward
Leslie Johnson pulling up from long-
range to score the contest's final three
points. The arc is about fifteen feet
farther from the hoop than the bud-
ding Purdue star usually ventures.
Saturday was Johnson's day,
though, and Michigan had no cure for
her. She had game-highs of 23 points
and 13 rebounds and was the major
force in holding the Wolverines' post
players to eight points.
"Height-wise, you wouldn't think
she could do the things that she could
do," Roberts said, "She's six-one.
She's got a wide body. She doesn't
even look like a basketball player.
But she uses her body extremely well.
"I knew that we were outmanned.
They've got several post players who
can come in and match up very easily
with our post players. They were stron-
ger, they were bigger and they could
jump a lot higher. I knew we could not
beat them in the post."
The Wolverines were led by
Gray's 13 points and 10 rebounds,
with Kiefer and Johnson each chip-
ping in 12 points each.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Michigan forward Silver Shellman draws a charging foul. Shellman scored six points in Saturday's loss to Purdue.
OURT Last thoughts for
_a record season
By SCOTT BURTON
DAILY BASKETPALL WRITER
Well, there was probably no more
appropriate, albeit sadder, way for
the Michigan women's basketball
team to end its historically bad 1993-
94 season.
The Wolverines 110-51 loss to
Purdue not only capped Michigan's
winless conference season - a first
for a Big Ten team - it also repre-
sented its biggest margin of defeat
ever.
But, since most 60 point losses
tend to speak for themselves in terms
of futility, I won't linger on the par-
ticulars of the game. The Wolverines
have lost so many times this season,
who really wants to hear about it
again in the last column about them
this year?
Instead, I'd like to focus your at-
tention on some other matters of the
Wolverines from this year and be-
yond. Call it the top-five impressions
left on this writer by Michigan's Big
Ten season:
1) The best of the Big Ten?
With apologies to Penn State,
Purdue is the class of the conference.
Although sporting no seniors, the Boil-
ermakers have gelled like a fine Jello
mold, surprising even coach Lin Dunn
with their teamwork and leadership.
Purdue's post, led by freshman
Leslie Johnson, is monstrous and hor-
rifically mean. The Boilermakers
guards are equally talented. They are
all great ball-handlers, they stream
effortlessly taking it to the hole, and
have a fine shooting range.
Purdue may not be a top-five team
in the national rankings, but you will
see it this year in the Final Four.
2) The biggest loss was the qui-
etest loss:
It didn't make headlines, but
Michigan's loss of walk-on center
Angie Mustonen and guard Sonya
Mays at the beginning of the season
proved to be a huge factor in the long-
run. The seven-deep Wolverines suf-
fered from fatigue and foul trouble all
year - and a few extra bodies, espe-
cially Mustonen's in the post, could
have made the difference in several
games.
3) Shimmy settles for consola-
tion prize:
Of all the Wolverines who de-
served the grand prize of a Big Ten
win, first was captain Shimmy Gray.
As the lone senior on a team com-
posed of five freshman and one sopho-
more, her dedication and spirit were
more than abundant on the court.
It wasn't hard to see how much
Gray gave to the team, how much she
thirsted for a win, and it's unfortunate
that she didn't get just that.
"I truly wished she could have
gone out on a better note," Michigan
coach Trish Roberts said. "But I hope
that she can say that her career here at
Michigan was memorable and some-
thing that she surely will not regret."
What Gray can hopefully take
consolation in is that she inevitably
left a positive impression for the
younger Wolverines, and she can cer-
tainly take some credit for what is
sure to be a brighter future for them. It
may not be a win, but it should mean
something.
"I've told them that I've done the
best that I can do," Gray said. "I just
hope that they can learn from my
mistakes, never repeat them and take
the good things I've tried to give them
and to go on to bigger and better
things."
4.) Johnson and Kiefer: The cor-
nerstones.
Speaking of Michigan's future,
guards Amy Johnson and Jennifer
Kiefer have left quite an impression
on the rest of the Big Ten. All year,
opposing coaches have pointed to
these two as future stars in the confer-
ence.
Appropriately enough, the two
were named to SportsChannel's Big
Ten All-Freshman team and were
honorable mentions for
SportsChannel's All-Big Ten team.
While Johnson and Kiefer had
their share of growing pains this
year - needless to say - the best is
yet to come for these two. But more
important than whether they develop
their tangible game, they'll need to
step into the leadership role left va-
cant by Shimmy Gray - something
they had limited success doing this
season.
5.) The Wolverines: What's in
store for '95?
After a truly forgettable season,
the hope is that in 1995 the six return-
ing Wolverines - who all played
unreal amounts of minutes - will
return headsy veterans having learned
their lessons well.
(And when you lose 19 straight,
there are lessons aplenty to be learned
- for toppers, being able to play
forty minutes of consistent basket-
ball, both as individuals and as a team).
Michigan will also be vastly
strengthened by an impressive recruit-
ing class - apparently one of the
better in the conference.
So what will happen when you
mix the core of returning veterans
with a solid base of freshman? Most
importantly, the problem of fatigue
and foul-trouble will be alleviated
with the numbers. Of similar impor-
tance, the starting positions will be
filled by competition and not by de-
fault.
All of which will result in a much
improved team - obviously not one
which will compete in the first divi-
sion quite yet, but certainly one who
won't have to worry about whether
they'll ever win a conference game. A
.500 Big Ten record may be a stretch
as a goal, but it is something they can
aim for as a start.
BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
By SCOTT BURTON
and BRENT McINTOSH
DAILY BASKETBALL WRITERS
Michigan's lone senior, Shimmy Gray, scored 13
points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her last game as a
Wolverine. She finishes her career as Michigan's No. 8
all-time rebounder (6.1 rebounds per game) and averaged
7.6 points per game in her three years.
"It was nothing like I'd expect it would be five years
ago when I signed," Gray said after the game. "I've been
through four years of having a losing record - that's
tough, it takes a toll on a person. (But this year) I had the
chance to play with six girls who made me realize I never
lost the love of the game. Ijust forgot how to love it. Those
six girls down there helped me remember that basketball
is supposed to be fun."
PURDUE POUNDS IN THE POST: Purdue controlled Michi-
gan in the interior in its first meeting, and got even more
brutal the second time around. The Boilermakers, led by
freshman Leslie Johnson, out-rebounded the Wolverines
55-28, and Purdue's starting frontline outscored
Michigan's 48-21.
MOTIVATIONAL SEMINAR: Most coaches don't attempt
to build for the future on the foundations of a 19-game
losing streak, but for Roberts, Michigan's season-ending
slump may be exactly the tool to get her team motivated
for next year.
"The first thing I'm going to do is to go have a sign
made that says 'Big Ten record '93-94: 0-18', " Roberts
said. "That's something that we are going to put in our
lockerroom and hopefully that will motivate us for the
next few years."
, YOUTH IS SERVED: Purdue's victory over Michigan
gave them the Big Ten co-championship, shared with
Penn State - a remarkable feat considering the youth of
the Boilermaker squad.
Purdue's roster sports no seniors, and Johnson is their
leading scorer, at 18.4 ppg.
"I don't remember a Big Ten championship (team) that
had no seniors, or one that had their leading scorer as a
freshman, or key players as sophomores and juniors,"
Purdue coach Lin Dunn said. "I think that it's probably
something very special."
"WE'RE No. 1": With 17:09 left in the second half,
Purdue forward Tonya Kirk went to the line to shoot two
free throws. The Michigan Pep Band immediately began
harassing her for any number of imagined faults, awk-
wardness and problems with her psyche.
When she missed the first shot, the jeering intensified.
She got her revenge, though, when her second throw
found nothing but net.
She then promptly gave the Wolverine crowd a salute
consisting of a raised middle finger - not quite an gesture
of respect.
Kirk finished with 15 points while harassing Wolver-
ine guard Jennifer Kiefer all over the court.
WHOSE HOME CROWD IS THIS?: The 949-strong crowd
at Crisler Arena Saturday was more boisterous for this
game than any other this season. That could be a surprise
considering that the home team lost by 59, except that the
crowd was cheering for Purdue.
"The fan support was tremendous, to have three times
The game is over
for Shimmy Gray
as many fans as them," Purdue guard Cindy Lamping
said. "They've been a big reason why we're Big Ten
champs."
While the Boilermaker crowd was at least three times
louder than the Wolverines, especially in light of Purdue's
Big Ten championship and Michigan men's basketball's
loss to Northwestern, a more conservative estimate put the
partisanship of the crowd at about half Maize and Blue and
half Boilermaker.
WHO ARE YOU, BILL PARCELLS?: In an surprising
gesture, the Boilermakers doused coach Dunn with a
bucket of Gatorade as time expired. Although initially
stunned, Dunn laughed off the maneuver in the postgame
press conference.
"I was prepared, but it came a little earlier than I
thought," Dunn quipped.
The seeds are in:
To nobody's surprise, Big Ten co-champions Penn
State garnered a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Women's
Basketball Tournament.
The Big Ten's other champs - Purdue - also re-
ceived aNo. 1 seed, a bit surprising given that they entered
the week ranked No. 10 in the AP Top-25. Most Boiler-
makers after Saturday's contest predicted a No. 2 seed for
their team.
I PURDUE (110)
Hildebrand
Taggart
Kirk
Lindsey
Jacoby
McCulley
Griffin
Lovelace
Johnson
Lamping
Roland
Totals
MIN
12
16
14
10
20
15
17
25
30
20
21
200
FG
M-A
1-2
1-1
6-9
4.7
0-1
3-9
1-2
5-13
8-11
3-8
8-10
FT
M-A
0-0
6-6
2-4
0-0
1-2
4-4
0-0
0-1
6-8
6-6
0-0
Rob.
0-1
0-3
0-3
5-11
1-2
4-11
6-13
1-2
A
2
2
0
0
3
0
2
1
0
3
2
15
F
2
3
1
5
2
0
3
2
1
0
1
20
Pts.
3
8
15
10
2
10
18
110
40-7325-3120-55
FG%:.571. FT%:.806. Three-point goals: 5-7, 14 (Roland
2-2, Hildebrand 3-1, Kirk 2-1, Johnson 1-1, Jacoby 0-1, McCulley
0-1). Blocks: 2 (Lovelace 2). Turnovers: 20 (Johnson 3,Taggart
3, Hildebrand 2, Jacoby 2, Lindsey 2, Lovelace 2, McCulley 2,
Roland 2, Griffin, Lamping). Steals: 16 (Lamping 4, Jacoby 3,
Johnson 3, Lovelace 2, Griffin, Kirk, Roland, Taggart). Technical
Fouls: none
a I I
1994 NCAA Regional & Final Four Ticket Lottery Information
For Student/Faculty/Staff Basketball Season Ticket Holders
&k i4 NC. R.Apls &ati rnal Four
(Region.al .atts seate Price
East MaiArena , i:.F March25 8& 27 $60...00Q.C
......aT' outpson-Boiing Aena, Knxville, TN March 24 &c 26....$52.00
Midwest keunop Arena,3Dalas, TXlarch 25 8G&2$57.00
West.... .!?e .L~,c as Aele,C A March 24 & Z6......
Final:Faur :.Carloe ieuin, ChrlotteNCArl2&4$60
Applications for Regional tickets will be accepted March 14 -16. Results posted at Union Box
Office & Athletic Ticket Office Mon., March 21. Applications for Final Four tickets will be
accepted March 14 -23. Results posted at Union Box Office & Athletic Ticket Office Mon., March 28.
NCAA
1 9.9 4
S
MICHIGAN (51)
Kiefer
Johnson
Gray
Brzezinski
Shellman
DiGiacinto
Ross
Totals
Min.
40
39
39
24
33
21
4
200
FG FT
M-A M-A
4-10 0-0
3-15 6-7
6-17 1-2
2-8 0-2
1-5 4-4
2-7 0-1
0-0 0-0
18.62 11-16
Reb.
Q-T
1-1
0-3
6-10
4-5
1-4
1-3
0-0
14-28
A
1
3
1
0
5
0
0
10
F Pts.
3 12-
2 12
4 13
2 4
5 6
3 4
3 0
22 51
I
- All tickets must be picked up at respective sites by
student/faculty/staff season ticket holder with valid I.D.
" Applications will be accepted beginning March 14,
at Athletic Ticket Office, 1000 South State St. during
regular office hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:00am to 5:30pm.
" Students may apply for one ticket.
" Faculty and Staff may apply for two tickets.
" Payment by checkorMastercard/Visaonly.
" For more information call 764-0247.
FG%: .290. FT%: .688. Three-point goals: 4-14, .286 (Kiefer
4-8, Brzezinski 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Shellman 0-2). Blocks: 2
(Brzezinski, Shellman). Turnovers: 25 (Kiefer 6, Shellman 6,
Johnson 4, Brzezinski 3, DiGiacinto 2, Gray 2, Ross 2). Steals:
8 (Gray 3, Brzezinski 2, DiCiacinto, Johnson, Kiefer). Technical
Fouls: none.
Purdue............51 59-110
Michigan......................28 23- 51
At: Crisler Arena A: 949
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