The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - December 7, 1998 - 7B
Cincinnati began 'real'
competition for Blue
By Stephanie Often
Daily Sports Writer
Yesterday against Cincinnati, the Michigan
women's basketball team did something a lit-
tle unusual by recent standards. It scored fewer
than 100 points.
The Wolverines posted just 66 points in,
their win over the Bearcats, a significant drop
*m the 103 points.
scored Friday againstB
Central Michigan and theB
104 points scored against mmentxy
Coppin State in the semi-.
finals of the Torneo Cancun de Basquetbol.
There may be questions as to why the drop
occurred, but the answer would be simple.
Cincinnati was a better team than the
Wolverines had faced. The Bearcats were 3-1
going into this game, with their only loss com-
in to another Big Ten team, Indiana, in the
ason WNIT tournament.
"Cincinnati is just a better team'" coach Sue
Guevara said. "They've held the other oppo-
nents to an average of 49 points, so this was
really a battle of the defense."
It was the defense along with the offense
that stepped up yesterday. The offensive power
Michigan produced in the games prior to yes-
terday should not be overlooked -yesterday's
game was the Wolverines' first sub-100 game
in the past three matchups.
Michigan has had an incredible presence on
the offensive end. The Wolverines are leading
the Big Ten in scoring offense with an 80.4
points per game average, a major reason for
their domination.
Having the second-highest free throw per-
centage in the league is also impressive Of
course, that's easier when teams commit 12
fouls in the first half, like the Chippewas did.
To be productive on the offensive end, the
defense has to play solidly. Fortunately for
Michigan, that has also been the case. The
Wolverines have held their opponents to an
average of 62.4 points per game, almost 20
less than their average point total.
"One thing that we've been trying to stress
all year is our defense," Guevara said. "I think
sometimes it's tough when you have such a big
lead. You can kind of let up a little and that's
something we've been working on. It's not so
much about who we're playing, but about us,
and being able to create our tempo."
It can't be forgotten that these two 100-plus
point games came against weaker teams.
Coppin State, which went 10-18 last year, was
simply overmatched by the Wolverines on
both ends of the floor. Michigan also brought
down 60 boards, which was the fifth-best
rebounding performance in school history.
The Chippewas were 10-17 last season, and
are 1-4 so far this year. Besides being simply
overmatched by the Wolverines, Central
Michigan committed 34 turnovers, which
proved the Chippewas have not yet gelled.,
There are tougher games to come for
Michigan. The Wolverines start their Big Ten
season at Indiana on Dec. 28, and the confer-
ence is proving to be one of the toughest
women's basketball conferences, with six
teams receiving votes in the AP poll.
They will also break from their grueling
Big Ten schedule to play the No. 2 team in the
nation, Louisiana Tech.
For now, the Wolverines have to take these
100-point games for what they are - confi-
dence builders. They're fun and keep the team
in good spirits, and the roll-over games do not
last long.
"It's definitely exciting when you get 100
points and the crowd goes crazy," freshman
Alayne Ingram said. "It gives you a definite
rush, but it just happens."
After Friday night's crushing of Central
Michigan, Thomas declared this was a team
that was ready for real competition.
"We're ready to play with the big dogs,"
Thomas said.
With a game-high 28 points against the
Bearcats, Thomas, along with the rest of the
team, proved that this is a team that is capable
of competing among the best.
WARREN ZINN/Daily
The Michigan women's basketball team continued its roll
with its first sub-100 point total in three games.
WARREN ZINN/Daily
T Michigan women's basketball team's effort on the glass paid off this past
weekend as the Wolverines outrebounded both Cincinnati and Central Michigan.
Defense keys wis"
By Uma SubraianIan
Dily Sports Writer
It was the lowest point total in more
n two decades for an opposing team.
, the Michigan women's basketball
team's 103-40 victory over Central
Michigan (1-4) on Friday night was the
team's largest margin of victory in more
than 25 years of basketball. In 1975,
Wisconsin scored a measly 33 points in
an 84-33 rout in that year's Big Ten tour-
nament.
Though Michigan (5-1) was helped
by the Chippewas' 28 percent shooting
m the field, the Wolverines should
rhaps credit themselves for the win.
Fueled by a stellar defense, the
Wolverines were firing on all cylinders,
forcing Central to commit 34 turnovers
and stifling the offense.
"They did a nice job," Central
Michigan coach Fran Voll said.
(Michigan coach Sue Guevara) "changed
some things up a little bit. Our kids have
a hard time adjusting to quick changes.
They're a quicker team than us."
ts no surprise that Michigan is quick.
veral players hold individual district
and state high school titles in cross coun-
try and track. Quickness is an element of
Michigan's game that was especially evi-
dent by the number of fast breaks the
Wolverines had.
Junior captain Stacey Thomas led the
Wolverine charge against Central. On a
play that was representative of the entire
game, early in the second half Thomas
an inbound pass and went coast-to-
coast, outrunning the nearest Central
defenders. Thomas had her way with the
Chips, beating them out on several occa-
sions.
"I'm working hard on defense;"
Thomas said. "I'm the kind of person
that could be unstoppable. I'm trying to
grow and mature (to be more aggressive
on defense). I think my game's coming
along, getting better as the games go.
"I love to run, and we can all run.
W're very athletic, that's our game.
That's where we get our points. We're
quick. I love that style of game."
Thomas' predictions came true last
night against Cincinnati. She was nearly
unstoppable as she scored a career high
28 points on 12-for-28 shooting. For the
second game in a row, Thomas had the
quickest hands on the team. She swiped
the ball seven times from the Bearcats.
As a whole, the defensive quickness
0 the team was evidenced by its 14
steals against Cincinnati and its 20 steal
against Central.
Cincinnati was a much tougher oppo-
nent for the Wolverines than the much-
maligned Chippewas. The Bearcats
forced 25 Michigan turnovers while
committing only 19 themselves. But
Michigan won the game on the boards,
grabbing 36 rebounds to Cincinnati's 31.
At the start of the season, there were a
lot of questions about just how well this
Michigan team would fare without its
prolific rebounder, Pollyanna Johns.
Johns led the team in rebounding the
past three years.
And though Cincinnati is the only
high-caliber opponent the Wolverines
have played since their season opener
against Vanderbilt, some of those ques-
tions such as who would take over
Johns' role in the paint have been
answered.
"I was pleased with the way we
played," Guevara said. "We tried a lot of
different things (on Friday), we put in a
2-2-1, a fullcourt press. We extended our
3-2 matchup and we did it pretty well."
Michigan's aggressiveness led to the
Wolverines yanking down 40 defensive
rebounds against the Chips. They fin-
ished the game with a total of 52
rebounds, doubling Central's total.
In a game in which every player saw
double digit minutes, every player made
a difference on defense. All 10
Wolverines - freshman Raina Goodlow
is out with a knee injury - had at least
two rebounds.
Last night, freshman Ruth Kipping
and junior Kenisha Walker stepped it up.
"Kipping and Walker were really
impressive on the boards,' Guevara said,
MICHIGAN ("I.
MIN M-A MA 04TA F PM
Thomas 38 12-18 4-4 2-9 1 1 28
Miller 28 13 0-0 05 0 4 2
Oesterle 20 1-1 2-2 1-2 0 2 4
Ingram 12 0.3 0-0 O.1 1 2 0
Thorius 34 3.7 2.2 0-4 5 4 9
Lemire 30 48 4-4 14 0 3 12
Walker 18 0"2 3.4 1-4 0 3 3
Kipping 20 3-8 2-2 47 0 3 8
Totals 200 24-50 17.1810.36 7 22 66
FQ%:.480. F, :.944 3-point FG:1-5 .200.
g(horius) Blocks: 1 ({Thomas). Steals: 14 (Thomas
,Kipping 3, Miller 2, Oestere, Thorius).
Turnovers: 25 (Thorius 8,Thomas 5,Kipping 3,
Ingram 2, Walker 2. Miller, Oesterle, Lemir.
Technical Fouls: none.
CINCINNATI (57)
Fe) FT no
MIN U*A *-A 0TA F PTS
Stocks 33 14 35 &11 0 3 5
Kirk 35 6.18 12 13 1 5 14
Scott 33 5.14 3-6 541 0 1 13
Slaise 33 5416 2-2 0-4 2 0 12
Roberson 36 3-7 4-4 0.0 3 2 11
Douglass 8 01 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Perry 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 10 0
Merriweather 7 0.3 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
Wilder 7 1-1 0-0 1.1 0 2 2
Groeber 3 0-0 00 00 02 0
Totals 200 2144 13-191631 7 16 57
FG% .328. FM- .684. 3-point FG: 2-19 (Kirk.
Roberson). Blocks: 7 (Scott 4, Stocks, Slaice.
Robersoni). Steals: 10 (Scott 3. Stocks 2, Kirk 2.
Slaice 2. Groeber). Turnovers: 19 (Slaice 25
Roberson 4. Scott 3. Kirk 3, Wilder 2, Stocks,
Perry). Technical Fouls: none.
Michigan...............28 38-66
Cincinnati.....................19 38-57
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (41
MM!UM- A U-A A F TSt
Woods 22 4-12 0-2 1-6 0 1 8
Jones 20 2-6 0-2 1-2 0 0 4
Daniels 18 1-6 0-1 16 0 4 2
Germany 9 1-3 0-0 1.1 0 2 2
Sedlar 16 0-8 0-2 02 1 2 0
Edinger 4 0.1 0-0 1-1 0 2 0
Culbertson 10 2-3 0-0 0-1 2 3 5
Munz 28 1-1 0.1 0-3 3 3 3
Rozak 22 2.11 01 2-2 1 4 4
Verhey 10 0-0 0-001 1 10
Winner 14 4-5 1-6 3.6 0 1 9
Erdman 9 0.4 0-001 01 0
Wenidt 18 1-4 1-2 0-0 0 1 3
Totals 200 18.64 2-15 12-32 9 25 40
F8%: .281. FT4: .083. S-pOnt F0: 2-6 (Culbertson.
Munz). Blocks: 4 (Woods, Daniels, Winner.
Erdman). Steals: 11 (Sedlar 3, Munz 2, Woods,
Jones. Culbertson, Verhey, Winer, Wendt).
Turnovers: 34 (Sedlar 8, Rozak 6, Munz 4. Daniels
3, Jones 2, Germany 2, Culbertson 2.Erdman 2,
Woods. Edinger, Verhey). Technical Fouls: none.
MICHIGAN (103)
MIN *A MA04 A F PT
Thomas 17 6-10 34 3-6 3 3 15
Oesterle 19 3.9 3.3 1-3 1 3 9
Miller 19 1.1 0.0 1-4 0 3 2
Thorius 23 44 3-3 0.4 6 1 12
Ingram 27 6-15 5.7 1.4 4 0 17
Walker 15 23 1-2 0-4 2 2 5
Lemire 30 7.9 6.8 1-8 4 0 20
Kipping 14 3-6 "-61.2 0 2 12
Dykhouse 17 05 0-0 1-2 1 2 0
Stowe 21 S-5 1.1 2-10 0 4 11
Totals 200 3747 283412-5220 20 103
FG%: .552. FM%:.824 3-point FG: 1-4, .250.
(Thorius) Blocks: 1(Thomas). Steals: 20 (Thomas
5. Lemire 3, Oesterle 2. Miller 2, Thorius 2, Walker
2. Kipping 2, Ingram. Stowe). Turnovers: 25
(Qesterle 4, Thorius 4, Miller 3. Ingram 3, Walker
3. Stowe 3, Thomas 2, Lemire 2. Kipping).
Technical Fouls: none.
Michigan....................48 55- 103
Central Michigan . ......14 26-40
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BEARCATS
Continued from Page 118
Bearcats. Michigan not only played
stellar defense once again, but
proved it could come back.
Michigan came out rather sluggish
last night and allowed the Bearcats to
score the first 12 points of the game.
Michigan did not respond with a
basket of it's own until an Anne
Thorius layup with 14 minutes
remaining. From that moment on,
Michigan dominated.
Michigan went on a 28-7 run to
end the half leading 28-19.
The second half was an even
game, with both teams scoring 38
points. Michigan, though, never let
the lead slip away. The closest
Cincinnati cut the deficit to was nine
points.
"Cincinnati is a very athletic
team," Guevara said. "They played a
good game, but we were able to
regroup early and establish and
maintain the lead."
Stacey Thomas had a career day,
scoring 28 points on 12-for-18
shooting from the field.
Before Michigan traveled to
Cincinatti, they dismantled Central
Michigan at Crisler arena Friday
night.
Michigan dominated Central from
the opening tip-off.
"We both came out with a lot of
emotion," Michigan coach Sue
Guevara said. "Both teams were
playing a little sloppy in the opening
minutes and the refs were not allow-
ing a lot of contact."
Michigan, however, regrouped
very quickly and with five minutes
remaining, led Central 30-10.
Michigan played a 2-2-1 on defense
and pressured the Chippewas into
turning the ball over 19 times in the
first half.
At the half Michigan was leading
48-14.
Michigan dominated on both
offense and defense. Michigan out-
rebounded the Chippewas 23-1 1 in
the first half, and shot 5g percent
from the floor (18-31), compared to
Central's dismal 6-for-25 (24 per-
cent) performance from the floor.
Stacey Thomas scored all of her
15 points in the first half. She shot
6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4
from the line.
Thomas stole the ball five times in
the first half, and was able to toy
with the Central Michigan defense.
The public address announcer for
the game screamed "Bingo-bango,
Thomas goes coast to coast,"
throughout the first half.
three games.
"Its a motivational
score 100 points,"
"Especially because
involved."
Early into the second half,
Guevara cleared the bench. All mem-
bers of the Michigan squad recorded
double digits in minutes.
"I am happy with the win, but I am
even happier that all the girls got
quality minutes in tonight," Guevara
said. "Down the road, we will need
experience and depth, and tonight I
think a lot of the girls got their feet
wet."
Ann Lemire had a big night. She
scored a game-high 20 points off a 7-
for-9 performance from the field and
a 6-for-8 clip from the free-throw
line. In addition, she pulled down
eight rebounds and recorded four
assists.
Michigan dominated the second
half and won the game 103-40, their
second 100-point output in the past
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