68 Th ihia aily - SPORTSManday - February 23, 1998 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL- BethBrn ~iI~Michigan 56 'a Minnesota 53 Ohio State 88 3' Michigan 80 4 FInal,: Big Tea.. lni n AI . an Purdo 3 Wisnn I '~ISt-r. t ll i.4 Ms4 h ; nf Ge, -.wthw st ,. 'M'innwa Ten Stnins Blue loss marks final Coaf. 124 1013 106 97 5-8 79 5-1:1 343 145 Overall 16-9 1~8 1&8 1940 17-9 208 1442 1441 1145 940 4-22 te r.. or......., 40.. !ticI/i;n tIo game at St. J By Tracy Sandier Igaiy Sports Writer COLUM BUS - Yesterday marked the end of an era for the Ohio State women's basketball team. After 24 seasons of women's basketball at St. John Arena, the Buckeyes played their final game in the building. In saying goodbye to their old stomping grounds, the Buckeyes honored more than 45 former women's basketball players, coaches and managers during halftime. Each of the former Buckeyes, along with her number of years in the program, was announced as she walked to the middle of the court. At the game's conclusion, the current and former players, fans and honorees joined arms and sang the Ohio State fight song. For the current Buckeyes, they couldn't think of a sweeter ending than to beat arch-rival Michigan, 88-80, ensuring that the Wolverines would never leave St. John Arena with a victory. "I said this morning that I thiink God wrote this script, when we play Michigan for our last game ever in this building,' Ohio State coach Beth Burns said. "'We had so many incentives for this game aside from that. What we tried to do from a staff's standpoint was appreciate and celebrate all that had gone before. "By the same token, I didn't want to put too much pressure on our shoulders. We're here to do what we do right now- and that's to win a ball- game. " Although Ohio State could not help but feel nos- talgic coming into the game, at 7-9 in the Big Ten, the Buckeyes are well aware that the past is not going to hold any weight in the standings. For the present members of Ohio State, getting the current job done was foremost on their minds. "We have to take care of what we can take care of," Burns said. "So, we wanted to celebrate all that was accomplished, but we are right now. What we could do best for right now, for ourselves and all the alumni, was win the game. "Before the game, we spoke to the pride and tra- dition of being a Buckeye you're always a Buckeye, and how exciting it is for us,' Burns said. "For [ohn Arena 1998 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament _ ....._.. 3 Su^Ma> 41 trJM 'ch ;qI,>late i 541 ija ,:.S. _ ._. I~ xxyi tui . 6 #i IS'-r, t It a7Pern'tae ri,& 411 Miinnesota Quarterfinsals and semifinals televised by FoxSpoos Chicago. Fnals televised by ESPN?. Allt imes are Eastern Central Time. Graphic courtesy of the Big Test coinference. INO AAPQU ,ri (g) EiN Lem=r k W/al,; 2 M-A.. .,O-T.AF PTS 413 0 2 5 9 22 1 2 4 9 )2-A61 1 4 22 IA 3)34Y 6 4 13 1 302 3 7 08 -6 -22 1 14 Is (10 0 00 2 12 4 310 4 4 28E~ 2127 9-34 15 25 80 r'~~~~ .-on 6 -1273 (Thorius 1- - ilci 013 Bocks: none. Lie ). urnver: 2(Johns 6. myself, as I walked through that tunnel, and I ,ee coaches that are active Division I coaches right now, who are still in the middle of their tournamnt seasons, it means so much more" than in the past. From the opening tipoff, the crowd was a catalyst for the team, standing and clapping for every play "We used the energy from the crowd," said juni or forward Marrita Porter, who finished the day with 31 points. In the minds of the players, the game was almost bittersweet. "The tradition here is really awesome, just look- ing up at those banners and stuff," sophomore Michaela Moua said. "In looking at all that has' been accomplished in this gym by Lady Buckeyes just like us, it's kind of sad. But I'm sure we Canr make the new gym feel like home." St. John Arena has been the only home courtthe Buckeyes have ever used. "It was a great day,' junior forward Larecha; Jones said. "I've played here since I was a fresh- man, so it's like a home. It's kind of like leaving; your home." MIN - 3-T0 A F PTS Por~t 91131 93 7 - 1 31 bee 31 40 o 4 5 3 17 Bog 2 12 223-4 1 3 4 3 I 4 3 6 2 14 Barke 102'0 1 0 3 0 Mou 15 41 8 2 1 1 13 Stahur 5 ( 0) 1 0 2 0 Fraki- ( 0-0 0 2 0 Easls 11 34 1 1 3 9 Totas 203 2951 2-361425 19 20 88 R%: 1319 F~: /5. 3poit [(213 .33 (Lewis 25, Jute 0 - locs Seal. Silaker3, Porter 2, Irirls) Tmo am iiI it 4 L~t ,Ioes, Barker, AtOi o r rs- - 38 Michigan guard Stacey Thomas didn't get all mushy for yesterday's game at Ohio State. For her and the rest of the Wolverines, the last game at St. John Arena was no big deal. Franklin shines ;in Wolv"Iennes lo-s Season's longest winning streak snapped MIN A A A FPTS f_< a / 1 5 0 8 Wilani .1 5 2 5 0 3 12 Jo~ts 4 0 4 7 2 3 18 Thoas :2 Air2a18 (0 3 6 ihous 1 / (302 3 3 8 Lemls- 1 1r- 2 C04 4 0 4 _Fe~n a (a 0 12 0 0 0 " Pa c 20 2 _..12-19 >-3014 13 56 12 3 12 0- (13 0 ~}J 0 00 ~-212 21 53 ,', 22 !n'hehr ii.Blocks: none. - 4, .s - lI~NS-i 3. ohinson, o~~~~~c I ~ ~ F~~1 s;-Tcncllouls: none. 20453 lti A:178 By Tracy Sandier Daily Sports WXriter COLUMBUS - No matter how Ndismal it may seem, in every cloud there does exist a silver lining. In yesterday's 88-80 road loss to Ohio State, the Michigan women's basketball team's silver lining came in the form of senior guard Akisha Franklin. -------------- W ith 6:07 left Baske tall in the game, the Wo lv'er ines Notebook were down 71- ------ ------- 64, but they mounted a comeback. Key to that comeback was Franklin. She hit two free throws to cut the Buckeyes' lead to five. She wasn't done. With 5:05 left to play, Franklin hit a 3-pointer that pulled the Wolverines within two points. She hit another basket with 4:22 left and was fouled. Franklin con- nected on the free throw, and the game was tied at 75. "Akisha's been playing really well for us coming off the bench," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "And for some reason, away from Ehome, too. She came in, and she had a couple steals. She was able to pen- etrate, do a couple up-and-under moves, and go to the basket." SFranklin finished yesterday's game with 14 points and two rebounds. -~~~~~~1 AltiMchtn l',teGophers rebsldo iiidxxored ~l bllaround, lookiy~ im a Pol sot. ut as Minnsot ~ , 51Ol'n doveto the baset noNI hnos'ai inatld took a dLg.kii di ohr hpes, ~ Mnneotathe tbledJhns, who ~inkboh re tros.oea he victory for to \\lxcrics J thirseventh She was I1-for-4 from three-point land and 5-for-6 from the line. "She hit a monster three for us," Guevara said. "She also was very cool, as far as going to the line and sinking some free throws. That's what you need off your bench. 1 was very pleased for Akisha." STREAKING ONTO THE COURT: After being unable to post victories in more than three consecutive games all season, Michigan put together a four-game winning streak with a 56-53 road victory over Minnesota on Friday. The Wolverines' three previous victims were Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue. The streak was snapped by Ohio State yesterday. LOSING THE SERIES: Michigan has never left Columbus with a victory. The Wolverines haven't had much success at home, either, considering they have beaten their rivals only three times in 35 meetings. Earlier this season on Dec. 28, Ohio State pulled out a 70-66 win over the Wolverines at Crisler Arena. NOT SO GOLDEN AGAINST THE GOPHERS: Although the Wolverines departed from Minneapolis with a victory Friday, it wasn't one of their most impressive victories of the sea- son. When the weekend began, the Wolverines were the Big Ten leaders in 3-point baskets with a .379 aver- age. Michigan shot a dismal 1-for-i11 from beyond the arc against the Golden Gophers. Their 56-point total also marked their lowest total output of the sea- son. SUMEREMLOYMENT METROPARKS/HAVE OVER 500 JOBS AVAILABLE THI SUMERIN A DELIGHTFUL PARK ENVIRONMENT LIFGUADNATURALIST, PUBLIC SERVICE ATTENDANT. MAINTENANCE AND MORE I SW~ '4 r ~T1.IO KI TWDf)SARK hMrARFS-T VC~i OR JOHN KRAF/Daily Michigan center Pollyanna Johns was big yesterday, but she wasn't big enough. Her 22 points and 10 rebounds led the Wolverines, but Michigan still dropped its regular-season finale at Ohio State, 88"0. 4 LIKE NORTH CAMPUS? YOU'LL LOVE hf': 1:-30 IN THE MORN- ING.WE 1IAVENfT DOI4J ANY HOMEWORK( TODAYV HAVE YOU? . ,EEEE I i