2B -The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - February 5, 1995
-WOMEN's
BASKETBALL
Blue drops two
to DIlini, Purdue
PURDUE (83)
FQ FT REB
MIN M-A M-A O-T A F
White 31 3-6 2-2 0.2 2 2 11
Roland 30 5-16 1-2 3-6 3 1 13
Lovelace 27 10-13 4-7 5-8 3 3 24
Erickson 26 4-6 0-0 0-1 4 2 12
Kirk 20 4-11 0-0 58 2 4 8
Van Gorp 22 3-7 2-2 3-7 1 2 8
Figgs 17 1-3 2-2 0-3 3 1 4
Erb 11 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 2
Griffin 10 0-1 1-2 0-2 1 1 1
Edgar - 6 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
Totals 200 31465 12-17 16-43 1917 83
FG%: .477. FT%: .706. Three-point goals: 9-18,
500 (Erickson 4-6. White 35. Roland 2-5. Kirk
By Jim Rose
Daily Sports Writer
This weekend, the Michigan
women's basketball team proved, once
and for all, that it is not an one-dimen-
sional team.
This team is capable of losing in a
variety of ways.
Take this weekend's games: They
were nothing alike.
Friday, the Wolverines fell com-
pletely apart midway through the sec-
ond half.
Sunday, Michigan didn't fall com-
pletely apart until the final minute.
Yesterday's 84-73 loss to Illinois,
coupled with Friday's 83-58
steamrolling by Purdue, dropped Michi-
gan to 1-10 in the Big Ten, 7-14 overall.
Sunday, the Wolverines tried some
new things. Point guard Jennifer Kiefer,
who averages 33 minutes a game, played
just 18. Akisha Franklin, who averages
just undernine points pergame, stepped
in and scored 20, while playing all 40
minutes.
The final results, however, were the
same as usual.
The Illini (4-6, 10-10) took the lead
two minutes into the game, and they
never gave it back, And after a first half
that included a 1-of-I11 performance
from behind the arc, Michigan was for-
tunate to be downjust eight at the break.
The teams went back and forth for
most of the second half, but Illinois
remained in control until the final two
minutes. A three by Silver Shellman,
followed by a Franklin steal and layup,
made the score 77-72 with 1:27 to play.
But the last minute saw Michigan in
disarray. The Wolverines missed sev-
eral off-balance3-pointers,andthe Illini
clinched the game from the charity
stripe.
Michigan coach Trish Roberts
blamed the loss, in part, on the Wolver-
ines' inability to hit the outside shot.
"Amy (Johnson) and Kiefer have not
been shooting the ball well lately," Rob-
erts said. "It takes (Kiefer) a while to get
her shot off, and she's been rushing it."
.:) ~11 - 1t . y , I
Illinois sophomore Ashley Berggren 0-1, Figgs 0-1). Blocks: 11 (Van Gorp 5,
led all scorers with 32 points, and the 5 Lovelace 2, Griffin 2, White, Figgs). Turn
15 (Roland 4, Lovelace 4, White 2, Kirk,
1I guard was also the game's leading Figgs, Erb. Edgar). Steals:8 (Roland 3,
rebounder, pulling down 12 boards. Lovelace 2, White, Erickson, Griffin). Tec
"The outcome of this game was
Ashley Berggren," Roberts said "She's MICHIGAN (58) F
leading the Big Ten in scoring, and she MIN M-A MA 6T A
just has a nose for the game. (She does) Frannkn 40 513 22 13 3
Johns 40 5.13 3-5 4-9 4
things you can't teach." Kiefer 38 3-6 0.0 0.0 2
Friday night, Michiganputupastrong Mr 1s 12 8 3 -7 2- 45 2
fight for most of the contest, but, in the Johnson 21 2-12 0-1 0-4 0
second half, Purdue was able to pull Willard 9 2-6 2-2 2-2 0
DiGiacinto 3 0-0 1-4 0.0 0
away. Totals 200 21-65 10-17 20-40 14
After hanging with the No. 22 Boil- FG%: .323. FT%: .588. Three-point goals:
.261 (Franklin 2-4, Kiefer 2-5, Willard 1-2
ermakers for much of the game, the Johnson 1-7, Murray 0-5). Blocks: 4 (Fra
Wolverines simply ran out of gas. Johns, Brzezinski, Willard) Turnovers: 18
7, Kiefer 4, Murray 3, Franklin, Brzezinsk
With just over nine minutes to go, a Johnson, DiGiacinto) Steals: 7 (Franklin
three by Michigan's Tiffany Willard j2,Brzezinski, Murray, Johnson) Technica
cut the lead to 58-55.
Then it got messy. "Purdue..-.-.......40 43-= 8
The Wolverines didn't score again Atigan......35 23-
until there was 1:35 remaining - a ILLINOIS (84)
seven and a half-minute span that saw FG FT REB
Purdue rattle off 21 straight points.Dill M A M T A
By then, the Boilermaker bus was Reinking 35 4-14 4-4 0-4 7
revving up its engine. Berggren 34 11-20 9-13 5-12 2
Vasey 2 4-5 3-4 2-9 0
Purdue coach Lin Dunn was im- Hanna 22 0-2 1-2 3-3 1
pressed with Michigan's effort, though Henderson 3 48 -4 7-11 4
-- especially early in the game. Albers 4 2-2 1-2.0-0 0
"They got our attention quickly," FG% .453. FT%.706. Three-point gas
Dunn said. "We looked like we had a .125 (Berggren 1-3, Reinking 1-9, Hanna
little chill from the weather. But (the Dill 0 "1, Henderson 0-2). Blocks: 3 (Vase
Hanna, Henderson). Turnovers: 15 (Dill 4
Wolverines) wore down, mentally and Berggren 4, Hanna 3, Reinking 2, Vasey,
physcaly, alfwy trouh th seond Henderson). Steals: 5 (Henderson 2, Reir
physically,halfwaythrough thesecond Berggren, Bond)Technical Fouls: none.
half."
- For Michigan, Pollyanna Johns and MICHIGAN (73)
Franklin each played 40 minutes, while MIN M-A M-A O-T A
Kieer38.Th hft inte Franklin 40 8-19 3-5 3.6 5
Kiefer played 38. The hefty minute Johns 38 58 24 611 1
totals took their toll on the weary Wol- Murray 32 1-11 4-4 1-4 1
verines.Brzezinski 22 3.4 0-0 2-3 1
veie.Kiefer 18 0.6 0.0 0-0 2
Purdue, on the other hand, got better Shellman 24 6-14 47 1-2 0
as the game got older. With no player Johnson 6 1-6 2-2 3.4 0
logging over 27 minutes, the Boiler- DiGiacinto 5 0-1 0.0 1-2 0
makers were fresh for the stretch run. ogts 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0
Purdue's reigning Big Ten Player- FG%: .347. FT%: .630. Three-point goals:
of-the-Year Stacey Lovelace led all "160 (Shellman 2-3, Franklin 1-6, Murray
Johnson 0-2, Kiefer 0-3, Willard 0-3) Btb(
scorers with 24. Franklin led Michigan (Brzezinski, Murray, Shelman) Turnovers
with 4, whileJohns washeldtoust3 (Franklin 4, Brzezinski 3, Jons 2, Kiefer,
wih1,wieJon a edtJut13 Murray, Willard, Shellman) Steals: 6 (Frai
"We were able rotate four different Brzezinski, Shellman) Technical Fouls: no
post players in there (on Johns)," said Illinois ............... 45 39-8
Dunn. "Our post players really wore Michigan.......37 36- 7
them down. Our depth was a factor."
At:: crser Arena; A: 1,186
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1
MARK FRIEDM
Akisha Franklin, shown here against Purdue Friday night, was one of the bright spots this weekend for the Wolverines.
F mnkli nimproves
stmgghng backcourt;
for winning fomula
By Andy Knudsen
Daily Sports Writer
She grabbed a loose ball with her team
down seven and under 1:40 left in the
game. Pushing the ball down the right
side, her tongue hangs out ofher mouth as
if she was an heiress to His Airness.
Posting up the one defender between
her and the well, Akisha Franklin pulled
fer team within five yesterday with a
turnaround lay-in and 1:27 left on the
clock.
Prior to this weekend, Pollyanna Johns
appeared to be the Wolverines'(1-10 Big
Ten, 7-14 overall) only consistent offen-
sive asset.
! But with modest scoring totals of 12
yesterday against Illinois (4-6, 10-10)
and 13 Friday versus Purdue (6-5, 13-9)
f1hns took second stage to Franklin.
Franklin led Michigan in both games
with 20 points yesterday and 14 Friday.
She previously was averaging 8.8 points
pergame as the Wolverines' second lead-
ig scorer.
Michigan coach Trish Roberts showed
her approval of Franklin's play by keep-
Oiig her on the floor for all 80 minutes of
(b weekend set, even though she wasn't
fsted as a probable starter.
Roberts said she started Franklin in-
sicad of Amy Johnson because of her
a ility to create shots.
-"A lot of point guards penetrate to dish
off, (Franklin) penetrates to score," Rob-
erts said. "That's good."
.More scoring from the backcourt is
definitely a boost the Wolverines needed.
Usually Johns is the only player who
can post double-figures in scoring. Yes-
teiday, despite the loss, Michigan had
three players with 12 or more points - a
rare occurrence this year.
Besides Franklin and Johns, the third
was Silver Shellman who chipped in 18
points, even though Roberts said she was
only 70 percent healthy after missing the
last three games with an ankle injury.
Franklin is soft-spoken, but she brings
a scoring mentality to the team.
"(I'm just) trying to create some-
thing for our team," the sophomore
guard said. "(I try) to take the ball to
the hole, and either get a foul or get a
shot."
And in running the offense for .80
minutes this weekend she committed
only five turnovers while dishing eight
assists.
But offense isn't the only aspect of
Franklin's game. She gets back on de-
fense.
Franklin doesn't try to bark at oppo-
nents with her quiet voice, but instead ,
gives them an intimidating glare.
And with four steals yesterday and
two Friday, she is often the catalyst of
Michigan's fast-breaks.
Despite Franklin's improved play this
weekend, Roberts still needs more from
her backcourt.
"(They need) to open it more inside
for Polly (Johns)," Roberts said. "Purdue
had three players on Polly at one time
and then when we're kicking it out our
perimeter players are just not sticking
it.
"We can't be a one dimensional
team."
And the Wolverines will see more
low zones clogging the post after their
poor outside shooting this weekend.
Michigan's shooting percentage be-
hind the arc for the weekend was .208
as the Wolverines hit only four-of-25
yesterday and six-of-23 Friday.
Prior to Friday's contest, Michigan
was connecting on 31.7 percent of its
long-range shots.
Roberts said the Wolverines' shoot-
ing woes aren't due to a lack of practice.
"Maybe we practice it too much, be-
cause in our practices we spend a lot of
time in shooting," Roberts said. "I think
what is happening is that they are so
conscious of it now that maybe it really
affects them.",
By Dan Stillman
Daily Sports Writer
They just didn't have a clue.
When the Michigan women's bas-
ketball team cut Illinois' lead to five
with 1:27 remaining in yesterday's
game, it looked as if the Wolverines (1-
10 Big Ten, 7-14 overall) might actu-
ally take a team down to the wire.
Instead, Michigan proceeded to force
three 3-pointers in the final minute and
a half of the game and lost by I1.
It seemed as if the Wolverines had no
idea how to go about winning the game.
Shooting a 3-pointer when you're
down by five with over a minute left is
not the worst option.
But having
sophomore for-
ward Tiffany
Willard force a
three while your
nationally ranked
3-point shooter,
Jennifer Kiefer,
and Michigan's
record holder for
most 3-point field
4VO A
for an unbelievable 7:53 as the Boile-
makers racked up 21 unanswered
points.
That's right, the score jumped from
58-55 to 79-55.
Granted, Purdue is bigger, stronger
and deeper than Michigan, but a21*
run is pushing it.
The Wolverines just collapsed-n
every aspect of the game, especially
shooting.
Michigan has made a habit of goiog
extended periods without scoring this
season. When asked why the team has
shot so poorly, Robert's reply was
puzzling, suggesting that the Wolver-
ines may have been practicing shoot-
ing too much.
Still two wins short of last season
three conference victories, the excuses
are piling up for the Wolverines. -
"Traditionally, when we play on Fri-
day and Sunday (of the same week
end) we play really well on Friday,"
Roberts said after yesterday's game.
"And then Sunday is usually that tough
game and we haven't had time to recu,,
perate."
Ironically, though, Michigan face,
No. 22 Purdue Friday, while
yesterday's contest was against the (3-
6, 9-10) Fighting Illini.
And, while the Wolverines played
Purdue well in the first half, there was
that embarrassing 21-0 Boilermaker
run in the second half.
With five games remaining in ;lie'
regular season, there's little lef for th
Wolverines to salvage.
But that's the great thing about post
season tournaments - anything caW
happen.
An upset or two at the Big Ten
Tournament in Indianapolis March-
4 would successfully cap off yet an-
other very disappointing season.
But to have even an outside shot of
making any noise at the tournament,.
Michigan needs to figure out how to
beat someone. Anyone. w
That'll be tough considering Mich'
gan faces four ranked opponents in the,
final five games.
Right now the Wolverines have ab-
solutely no idea how to win a ball gane.,
MARGARET MYEF
Michigan forward Silver Shellman returned from an ankle injury to score 1,8 p
In an 84-73 loss to Illinois yesterday.
Up next
Feb. 9 at State College, Penn., 7 p.m.
goals, Amy ~ ^ J""
Johnson, watch from the bench baffles
the mind.
But Friday's loss to Purdue was a
factor in Michigan women's basketball
coach Trish Roberts' decision not to
play Kiefer at the end of yesterday's
game.
RS/Daily "(Purdue) put a bigger player on
oints (Kiefer) and she couldn't get her shots
off,"'Roberts said. "It takes her a while to
get her shot off and they're just not letting
her take that time to get the shot off."
While benching Kiefer at the end of
the Illinois game was an option, run-
ning plays that buy time for the 40-
percent 3-point shooter to set-up her
shot also should have been considered.
Despite the ugliness of Michigan's
self-destruction yesterday, Friday
night's collapse was even worse.
The Wolverines held their own
against No. 22 Purdue for much of the
game. Michigan trailed 58-55 with nine
minutes remaining.
But then, Michigan went scoreless
r
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