11 The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 23, 1998 - 7B Key players return, propel Michigan to victory over Buffs 'K- By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer The Michigan women's basketball team can no longer blame inexperience for their mis- takes. Saturday in a 84-78 win over Colorado, this team seemed to know exactly what they re doing. Prior to tipoff, the 1990 and 1998 NCAA tournament teams were honored in a banner raising ceremony. Former players came back to receive this recognition and were greeted by fans at Crisler Arena. And on Saturday, the 98-99 Wolverines showed that they wanted the ceremony next year to be in their honor. "The freshmen were sitting on the bench when the '90 and '98 teams were out there, # I said, 'Hey, look, you guys are sitting here right now - it's your team in 99."' Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. 'Up until Saturday it had been their team. In the games against Vanderbilt and Detroit Mercy, Michigan started three freshmen. But last night, the Wolverines only started two freshmen, and played an experienced lineup when the game got close. With senior Ann Lemire and junior Kenisha k Iker back in the lineup, Michigan had the erience that they had missed in the earlier games. "i've been playing in practice and preparing myself for each position," Lemire said. "I was really anxious to get in there - I was ready." Both players were needed towards the end of the game when the lead kept switching sides. Colorado was leading at the half, 38-35, despite great penetration and ball handling by the Wolverines. But Michigan came out with a new intensi- ty in the second half. There was an impressive defensive pres- ence on the boards that allowed Michigan to quickly take the lead. The half started off with Michigan's Alison Miller making two free throws, starting a run to put the Wolverines ahead. Stacey Thomas continued the run for the Wolverines with a basket off a steal from Colorado's Nikki Weddle. Then Raina Goodlow put the team ahead 41-40, a half a minute later. This was the beginning of what would be eight lead changes in the second half. It wasn't until Guevara put in the experi- enced line-up that the Wolverines were able to take charge. With five minutes left, Thomas, Lemire, Walker, sophomore Anne Thorius and lone freshman Raina Goodlow were put in. It was the play of Thomas and Lemire, two experi- enced guards, who were able to convert in the paint and take the lead and hold it for remain- der of the game. "There is no substitution for experience," Guevara said. "We were able to have Kenisha and Ann in there who have both been in some very tough games, the only rookie we had in there was Raina Goodlow and I think she is just getting better and better. We did a really good job with composing ourselves down the stretch." It was that composure and the return of two experienced players that were the key points for Michigan in their victory over the Buffaloes, who were also are plagued with inexperience this year. Colorado, who also has a large group of freshman, has been a power in the Big 12 and the NCAA tournament the past few years, making the NCAA tournament six out of the last seven years, but the experience that the Wolverines regained was just to much for the Buffaloes. This win puts the Wolverines over .500 and gets them ready to head to Cancun for Thanksgiving, where they will participate in the Torneo de Cancun Basquetbol. Now that Michigan boasts a winning record, with two impressive victories, fan sup- port should follow shortly. "This was a big win for us", Guevara said. "We had 841 people here and I hope all 841 enjoyed the game and each person will hope- fully bring another person back with them." WARREN ZINN/DA Experience was the key down the stretch for Michigan as the Wolverines defeated Colorado at Crisler Arena Saturday, 84-78. Banner ceremony celebrates past seasons But Wolverines looking to future, especially El Torneo Cancun de Basquetbol By Uma Subramanian Daily Sports Writer Saturday was a homecoming of sorts for the Michigan women's bas- ketball team. As the NCAA tourna- ment banner from 1990 and 1998 was unfurled from the rafters, former Wolverines from the two golden sea- sons of women's basketball witnessed this year's team narrowly pull out a victory over Colorado. The bright Basketball yellow banner Notebook hanging over section 31 in ----------------- Crisler Arena serves as a reminder of last year's team which went 19-10 overall and finished third in the Big Ten. It also tells the story of the 1990 team, which had the most prolific sea- son in school history, played during the glory days of Crisler Arena. The men's basketball team had just won the NCAA championship the previous season. Then it was the women's turn to make a statement. That team - led by junior Carol Szczechowski and senior Tanya Powell - finished with a 20-10 record and tied for fourth in the con- ference. As a result, Michigan received its first-ever NCAA tourna- ment bid. The greatest season in Michigan women's basketball history ended with a second-round loss to North Carolina. Although several years have passed, Saturday's ceremony served both as a reminder of that winning season as well as an inspiration for future teams. "It's just a great honor to have a banner up there and be represented up there with other elite past players," said Michigan guard Stacey Thomas who scored a team high 17 points in last year's tournament game. "It's just a motivator to know that they did it, and we can come out and do the same thing. It's a great honor." FULL STRENGTH: The Wolverines and the Buffaloes are a lot alike. Both mascots are animals that once roamed freely throughout North America. But more importantly, both women's bas- ketball teams are young and looking to return to the NCAA tournament. Since they are so similar, Saturday's game was a battle that featured 14 lead changes. But down the stretch, the differ- ence was experience. During the last ten minutes of the half, the Wolverines were guided by their veterans. Thomas and sophomore Anne Thorius were familiar images on the floor, but it was lone senior Ann Lemire and junior Kenisha Walker who helped Michigan finish the job. For the first time all season, the team was playing at full-strength. Walker returned from a severe ankle sprain, and Lemire was back from a three-game suspension. The two com- bined for 22 points. SURF'S UP: While the Michigan men's basketball team and football team head to Hawai'i, the women's basketball team is taking a trip of its own. The Wolverines are heading to sunny Cancun for the Torneo Cancun de Basquetbol. However if in Cancun they're look- ing for a diversion from basketball they could call Colorado freshman guard Mandy Nightingale.' Nightingale is the top-ranked female trick water skier in the world in her age group. She was the 1997 world champion. But there probably won't be much time for that. PERFECTION: Freshman Alayne Ingram has been perfect from the line this season going 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. In Saturday's 84-76 victory over the Buffaloes, Michigan shot 91% from the free throw line. "This is the first time since I've been here that we've shot 91% from the free throw line," Guevara said. "That's major for us. It's a really good goal for us to attain, we only had thir- teen turnovers - a season low for us ... We get (a couple of days) off before we head to sunny Mexico." WARREN ZINN/Daily "'Michigan will travel to Cancun, Mexico over Thanksgiving break for the Toreno Cancun de Basquetbol. Women's swimming .wamps Penn State Tigers kick off Maui Classic for Michigan By Justin Betrock For the Daily The Michigan women's swim- ming and diving team could not have asked for a better meet before the Thanksgiving break. In their meet at Penn State, the Wolverines captured 12 out of 16 events to win, 164-136. Michigan ed its season record to 3-1 in the Ten, 4-2 overall. Six different Michigan swimmers swam to top honors this past Friday with standout performances by All- Americans sophomore Jennifer Crisman and junior Shannon Shakespeare. Shakespeare, also a member of the Canadian Olympic team, contin- ued her strong season with two indi- ual victories in the 100-yard eastsroke and the 200 individual medley. "Personally I did well, and the team pulled out a close meet," Shakespeare said. Shannon has the option to leave the Wolverines and rejoin the Olympic team after her junior year. "I have not made up my mind yet, but I do want to be a member of the 2000 team," Shakespeare said of the voming Olympic campaign. Jennifer Crisman, a five-time Big Ten champion as a freshman, was the key swimmer for the Wolverines. By taking first place in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 100 butterfly she led the team in individ- ual victories. "Jennifer is really talented and a really important swimmer for our am," Shakespeare said of her team- te. Shakespeare and Crisman teamed up with twQ other Michigan swim- mers, Lindsay Carlberg and Jennie Eberwein, to win the 200 medley relay. "Jennifer is able to swim individ- uals and relays and that was key at this meet, Shakespeare said. Other first place finishes by Michigan in individual events were by sophomore Missy Sugar in the 200 freestyle, Carlberg in the 200 backstroke, senior Jennie Eberwein in the 100 freestyle and senior Cathy O'Neill in the 200 breaststroke. In order to defeat Penn State, it was important for the Wolverines to swim well from the top to the bottom of their roster. Michigan had fewer swimmers than normal at the meet, so each had to swim more events. After graduating a class of 10 seniors last May and losing two more key swimmers to injury this season, the team is thin in depth but not in heart. "We're taking it step by step until the Big Ten championships," Shakespeare said. "And we're hoping to have them back by the champi- onships." The diving team didn't finish first in either the one-meter or three- meter events, but it had a solid show- ing nonetheless. Michigan placed second through fourth in both events to overwhelm Penn State in the diving portion of the competition. Senior Jill Unikel, junior Hanna Shin and sophomore Amanda Crews all had strong showings for Michigan. After the long weekend, Michigan has its final meet of the fall semester at the Notre Dame Invitational Dec. 3-5. With other top teams competing in the event it will test Michigan's strength. Monday the team will be return- ing to regular training for the upcom- ing meet. "I'm positive with the way the team is training and I am looking forward to Notre Dame," Shakespeare said. By Josh Kleinbaum Daily Sports Editor The Michigan men's basketball team just might get leied this week. But the Wolverines (1-2 overall), playing a three-day stint in the island state at the Maui Classic, have more things on their minds than flowered necklaces. Like Tigers. Michigan faces No. 24 Clemson (3-0) in the first round of the tourna- ment today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Oh, my. The Tigers present Michigan's biggest challenge thus far. But, despite his team's youth and Clemson's national ranking, Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe does- n't see his team as the underdog. "Clemson will want to beat us when we get out to Maui," Ellerbe said. "They're going to get up for us, and we've got to be ready to handle the call." But will Michigan be ready? In the Wolverines first two games this sea- son, they were anything but ready. The frontcourt played sheepishly, the backcourt took too many shots and Michigan lost. But this past Thursday, the other Michigan team showed up - the balanced team that can get points from all five positions - all five starters scored in double digits. The team that beat a talented, underrated Detroit Mercy squad, 62- 55. If Michigan showed anything, though, it's that it needs production from its inside game if its going to be successful. Which means Josh Asselin, Brandon Smith and Peter Vignier have to step up. Clemson, on the other hand, has cruised through its early non-confer ence schedule. The Tigers rely heavily on guard Terrell McIntyre, who becanin Clemson's all-time career leader in 3-pointers made last Thursday when he hit five long-range shots in the Tigers' 82-56 victory over Western Carolina. Mcintyere scored 25 points in the game. "McIntyre is as good a guard as you'll find," Ellerbe said. The Tigers add an inside presence with Todd Wideman and Harold Jamison, who stand 6-foot-10 and 64 8, respectively. Part of Michigan's success in the paint against Detroit was thanks to a significant size advantage, some- thing that the Wolverines won't enjoy today. But Ellerbe isn't worrying too much about that. In fact, he said his team wasn't even going to think about Clemson until the Wolverines arrived in Maui. Instead, they worried about them selves in practice, and making them selves a better team. DAVID ROCHKIND/aily Leon Jones and the Michigan men's basketball team will face Clemson in the first round of Hawai'I's Maul Classic. EMIIIS INSIDE DRi crLJI'Jnl:C-Ili: