4B - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - February 16, 1998

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL


I still don't think we
When we have all oi
when they're all on,
a very, very tough ti
Michigan women sv

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Seniors remain focused in final game at Crisler

By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer
As far as ceremonies go, this one
was pretty standard. Before the tipoff
against Northwestern yesterday, the
Michigan women's basketball team
recognized its four seniors at mid-
court, honoring them with flowers and

Johns, behind her strong showing in
the extra frame, poured in 21 points
and collected 15 rebounds. Murray
added 11 points, and Willard and
Franklin scored seven and two, respec-
tively.
While the season-high crowd of
4,246 did its best to make the seniors'
last home game a special one, the
group remained focused on the basket-

NORThWESTERN (64)
119 FT RI
MINI MA *A 0-T A F PTE
Schock 33 2-7 1-2 2-7 0 0 5
Divjak 44 1021 33 28 0 1 27
Connally 20 3-4 1-1 24 0 2 7
DeWall 40 1-7 0-0 0-3 5 4 2
Chawansky 43 615 &12 04 4 4 21
Byington 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
Flores- 17 0-2 2-2 0-2 0 4 2
Wrenn 0+ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Giblin 13 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 1 0
Berki 11 0-0 0-0 1-4 0 2 0
Totals 225 22-58 1520 1.141 10 19 64
FQ%: .379. F%: .750. 3point FG: 5-20, .250 (Divjak 4-
11, 'Chawansky 1-5, Flres 0-2, Schock 0.1, DeWall 0-1).
Blocks: 3 (Schock, Divjak, Giblin). Steals: 8 (DeWall 3,
Divjak 2, Schock, Flores, Berki). Tumovers: 15 (Divjak
4, DeWall 4, Chawansky 2, Flares 2, Schock, Connolly'
Berki). Technical Fouls: none.
M ICHIGAN (70L F T -
MIBN *A *A 0-T A F PT
Muray 36 4-13 0-0 2-5 0 3 11
Thnies 41 2-12 3-4 8&13 2 2 7
Johns 39 6.12 9-13 &15 2 1 21
Thoriu4 40 5-13 1-2 2-4 2 2 14
Lemire', 38 3-10 0-3 2-5 4 1 6
Franklin 5 1-3 00 0-1 0 2 2
Walker , 15 15 0-0 1-5 0 1 2
Willard 11 2-5 33 1-2 0 0 7
Totals 225 2473 16.25 2653 10 12 70
FG%: ,329 FT%: .640. 3-pont FG: 6-16, 375 (Murray 3-
7, Thorius 3-5, Lemire 0-2, Franklin 0-1, Willard 0-1).
Blocks: 3 (Johns, Murray, Thorius). Steals: 9 (Thomas 4,
Thorius, Murray, Johns, Lemire, Walker). Tumovers: 14
(Johns 4, Thomas 3, Lemire 2, Thorius, Murray, Franklin,
Walker, Willard). Technical Fouls: None.
Northwestern........... .....27 35 2-64
Michigan-....................... 34 28 8- 70
At: Crisler Arena A: 4,246
MICHIGAN (67)
FO FT RIB
MIN. MA MA 041 A F PTE
Murray 32 4-14 0-0 0-2 2 1 10
ThorfUs 40 5-9 2-3 01 3 0 13
Johns 28 610 34 6-10 2 4 15
Thomas 37 5-10 0-1 5-14 2 4 10
Lemire 19 16 0-0 0.1 2 4 2
Franklin 21 3-5 5-7 0-2 4 0 13
Walker 11 2-2 -0-0 0-1 0 1 4
Stowe 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Willard 9 0-0 0-0 0-3 1 3 0
totals 200 2656 1045 12.471618 67
FG% .464. F%: 667. 3pont FG: 5-10, 500 (Murray 2-
4, Franklin 2-3, Thorius 1-2, Lemire 0-1). Blocks: 5
(Johns 2, Thomas 2, Walker). Steals: 8 (Thomas 3,
Franklin 2, Murray, Johns, Lemire). Turnovers: 14
Thorius 4, Johns 2, Lemire 2, Franklin 2, Walker 2,
Thomas). Technical Fouls: None
PENN STATE (59)
IG F T BE
MN *A MA 0. A F PTE
Portland 23 2-3 0-0; 0-0 1 1 6
Clements 17 2-6 0-0 0.1 2 0 4
Garner 32 6-14 0-2 6-14 1 2 12
Parsons 36 1-6 56 1-4 5 4 7
Darling 31 1-6 0-2 ,.0.4 2 2 2
Brewer 5 2-4 2-2 210 6
Shepherd 22 3-10 2-2 '2-3 1 3 10
Carter 10 1-2 0 0 k2 0 0 2
Falcone 8 0-2 0-0 11 2 1 0
Walseth 16 .5-8 0-0 2-2 1 1 10
Totals 200 2341 9.15 1738 16 14 59
% .377. FI%: .600. 3-pont F0: 4-17, .235 (Shepherd
2-9, Portland 2-3, Parsons 0-2, Falcone 0-2, Darling 0-
1). Blocks: 2 (Garner 2). Steals: 7 (Parsons 3, Darling
2, Carter, Falcone). Turnovems 16 (Darling 5, Portland
3, Garner 2, Parsons 2, Clements, Shepherd, Walseth).
Technical Fouls: None.
' Michigan .....................37 30 -67
Penn State ............33 26~-59
At: Bryce Jordan Arena A: 6,369

applause. V
Yet, when the
Wildcats forced
the game into
overtime, and the
Wolverines were
in danger of a dis-
astrous loss, the
term "Senior
Day" took on a
whole new mean-
ing.
Led by center
Pollyanna Johns,
Michigan's grad-
uating class -
also consisting of
Molly Murray,
Tiffany Willard

"I'm sure when we
have our banquet,
then the emotion will
show more. Right
now, we still have
business to do."
- Sue Guevara
Michigan women's basketball
coach,
on her seniors' final home game

ball that is yet to
be played - two
road dates at
Minnesota and
Ohio State and
the crucial Big
Ten Tournament.
Defeating the
conference-door-
mat Gophers and
repaying the
Buckeyes for an
earlier home loss
are likely musts
if the Wolverines
want to nail
down an NCAA
Tournament bid.
The same can be
some noise in the

usually mediocre

emotion will show more," Michigan
coach Sue Guevara said. "Right now,
we still have business to do."
Murray also downplayed the mean-
ing of the gritty victory, during which
the Wolverines couldn't put the
Wildcats away. .
"It really hasn't hit me yet" Murray
said. "The game was kind of symbolic of
how the four years have gone for us
seniors, because it was so up and down."
Johns attached more meaning to the
final home win because it came
against her hometown rival.
"This game was big to me because it's
Northwestern, and I'm from Evanston,
so we really wanted to beat them."
Johns also wanted the win for more
personal reasons.
"My first two years here were
absolutely horrible, with the way I
played and a bunch of other stuff.
That's why this one means a lot.":
Johns suffered a season-ending knee
injury in her freshman year, and also
struggled with then-coach Trish
Roberts, who departed after Johns'
sophomore year.
But don't expect Johns and the rest
of the Wolverines to dwell on this
game -not with their future still to be
decided in the coming weeks.
"Like Molly said, I don't really feel
that much different now," Johns said.
"I won't really be emotional until the WARREN ZINN/Dai
season's over, and I know I won't be Michigan center Pollyanna Johns grabs a rebound from Northwestern's Mary
coming back." Connolly. Johns had 21 points and 15 rebounds yesterday.
Big Tnofrscalngnslt

and

Akisha

Franklin - refused to lose its last
game in Crisler Arena.
Johns, who scored seven of
Michigan's eight overtime points, was
nostalgic about the last home game of
her career.
"I can't put it into words," Johns
said. "For me, this really meant a lot."

said about making

conference tournament.
So please excuse the Wolverines if
the tears aren't flowing right now -
they've got more important things to
worry about.
"I'm sure when we have our banquet
(at the end of the season), then the

By Tracy Sandler
Daily Sports Writer
With one weekend of play left before
the Big Ten Tournament, the Michigan
women's basketball team is beginning to
take another look at its competition. Of
course, the Wolverines first have to con-
tend with Minnesota and Ohio State on
the road next weekend, but the tourna-
ment is approaching quickly.
"It's not going to be easy," Michigan
coach Sue Guevara said. "We're going to
be on the road. They're going to be gun-
ning to move themselves up in the tour-
nament.
"Ohio State beat us. We owe them,
and we owe them on their court."
It doesn't get any easier for the
Wolverines (9-5 Big Ten, 17-7 overall)
once the tournament begins.
"You look at the Big Ten, and it's pret-
ty strong top to bottom," Guevara said.
"The way that everybody's been beating
up on each other, I think there should be
five teams that go to the NCAA tourna-
ment. There are some really tough teams
that we have to play day-in and day-out.
"We have one day to prepare for the
other team when we play on Sundays.

You look at the teams that Illinois has
beaten. You look at the teams that
Indiana, Penn State, Purdue and
Wisconsin have beaten, and we've beaten
those teams. It's a very strong confer-
ence."
Northwestern coach Don Perrelli
looks to Illinois and Iowa, as far as the
cream of the crop in the conference goes.
"They are the premiere teams in the
Big Ten, because of their depth and
because of the talent level that they
have," Perrelli said. "I just feel they're
stronger than any team. Michigan,
Michigan State, Purdue - stronger than
any of those teams.".
Guevara agrees, pointing out Illinois'
physical game as one of its strengths.
"Illinois has good inside-outside," she
said. "They've got good size."
Much of Iowa's success, as is the case
with most good teams, arises from the
number of talented players the
Hawkeyes possess. Four players - cen-
ter Amy Herrig, guard Angela Hamblin,
guard Nadine Domond and center
Tangela Smith - average double digits
in scoring for the season.
"Iowa's not very deep, but it probably

AiLLISON CI LH,'E J/ Lid!
Michigan forward Kenisha Walker battles for a rebound with Northwestern's Leah
Berki yesterday. The Wolverines beat the Wildcats, 7044, in overtime.

n~ r
B- ce ordan
o ers umque
experience
By Josh Keinbaum
Daily Sports Writer
Maybe I'm just lazy, but when the Penn State public
address announcer said on Friday that I had to stand up
again before the Michigan women's basketball team
beat Penn State, 67-59, 1 groaned. Apparently, the
Nittany Lions wanted to sing the Australian national
anthem to one of their teammates, an Aussie native, and
I had to endure it.
I don't have anything against Australia. Actually, I
kind of like the land down under. After all, they gave us
Mel Gibson and the Lethal
- ----------- Weapon series. But how often do
Basketball you see a basketball team sing a
national anthem - not even its
 own -to a teammate?
---.....--- Welcome to the wild world of
women's basketball at the Bryce Jordan Center.
They sang the Aussie national anthem, and I stood -
grudgingly.
But then the lights dimmed, and the laser show
began.
Again, this was a first for me. A laser-light show at a
women's basketball game? Most men's teams don't
even do that. But there I was, sitting on press row with
lights swirling all around me.
I was worried. Maybe this was the wrong place,
maybe I was at the wrong game. At Crisler yesterday,
for example, when the Wolverines edged Northwestern,
70-64, there was no Australian national anthem and
there was no laser-light show. I think I might have heard
Anne Thorius humming the Danish national anthem,
but that was about it.
But there they were - the Wolverines that I've cov-
nrifn ~rlu..m.r mnnt+c nnwm-- ++tfn a n+heir

has the most talent of any team," Perrelli
said. "The premiere player this year, in
my opinion, is Tangela Smith. I won't go
into any others, because they're all pret
ty close. But Tangela Smith is player of
the year. She will get my vote."
Maybe one of the strongest indica-
tions of the strength of the Big Ten lies in
Wisconsin.
Although the Badgers are in seventh
place, they're the 19th-ranked team in
the country. The third-place Wolverines
lost to the Badgers on Jan. 23, 79-63.
"Wisconsin is sitting in seventh place
in our conference, ranked 19th in th
country, and they're 6-7 in the Big Ten,"
Guevara said. "We happened to play
them without Pollyanna Johns that
game, and rebounding hurt us."
Going into yesterday's game,
Northwestern was 3-11 in the confer-
ence and 9-18 overall. But the Wildcats
still took the Wolverines to overtime,
eventually losing 70-64.
"I still don't think we've peaked,"
Guevara said. "I don't think we are on a
cylinders. When we have all our shoot-
ers, when they're all on, I think we're a
very, very tough team to defend."
WILDCATS
Continued from Page 1B
The Wolverines won the game despite
shooting just under 33 percent from the
field - including a dismal 28 percent ih
the second half.
"We were very, very fortunate to
come out of this game with the 'W"
Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "It
was defense and rebounding. That's how
we've been winning games."
Michigan dominated the boards, out-
rebounding Northwestern 53-41 and
pulling down 26 offensive rebounds.
The Wolverines missed a handful of
jumpers from right under the baske
shots that Guevara said should have
been made.
"We must not be doing enough pene-
tration, short-jumper drills," Guevara
said. "We missed a lot of them today."
The Wolverines built a 10-point lead
with 13 minutes left behind two 3-point-
ers by Thorius and one by Murray. But
the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run, includ-
ing five points from forward Kristina
Divjak, the Big Ten's leading scorer
Divjak led all scorers with 27 points.
The Wolverines then clamped down
defensively, holding Northwestern to
just three points over a 5 1/2-minute
span late in the second half.
The Wolverines had trouble putting
points on the board. Sophomore Stacey
Thomas was held to 2-of-12 from the
field, and Ann Lemire shot just 3-of-10.
The Wolverines didn't have any
shooting troubles on Friday en route to
67-59 victory over Penn State (7-6, 1
10). The win marked Michigan's first-
ever win in Happy Valley.
"This is a huge, huge win for us,"
Guevara said.
Michigan's seniors had revenge on
their minds in Friday's game. and not just

ALLISON CANTER/Daily
Michigan guard Stacey Thomas takes a jump shot over two Northwestern defenders in yesterday's overtime vic-
tory over the Wildcats. Thomas scored seven points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

thing that worried me again. It was another reporter,
apparently uninterested in the game, talking about the
recent Academy Award nominations. He was upset that
the Academy snubbed "Starship Troopers" for a Best
Pint-iu nomination . ven 1caled the movie a "mnlti-

Willard. In her nine minutes of play, Willard picked up
three fouls of her own. Now, there's something I'm used
to seeing.
I still wasn't sold, though. And when the Wolverines
hit fonr-straight free throws with inst under seven min-