The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 15, 1999 - 5B * Play of the weekend Michigan guard Anne Thorius made a jump shot with five seconds left Friday against Illinois to put the Wolverines up by one - proving to be the game winner Illinois & Michigan 81 K Michigan 56 70 Player of the weekend Guard Stacey Thomas Thomas notched her 1,000th point this weekend and broke her own single-season steals record, with her 90th, against Illinois. Michigan State 6plit dims Tourney hopes By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer EAST LANSING - Heading into last weekend the Michigan women's basketball team was holding onto the crucial fifth-place spot in the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines' goal was to hang othat spot for a few more weeks, ing it would be enough for a bid to the NCAA Tournament. In order to do that the team would have to win the rest of it's games, but one win and one loss later, Michigan finds itself half a game out of that coveted fifth place. This past weekend was composed of two must-win games. Though they came away with a close victory against Illinois on Friday, the Wolverines *ldn't to hold on for a weekend sweep. Yesterday, Michigan traveled to East Lansing in what would be the deciding game for fifth place in this week's standings. The Spartans entered the game at .500 in the conference and half a game behind the Wolverines. That was enough motivation for Michigan State to complete its week- end with a sweep, defeating the Freshman Raina Goodlow con- tributed nine points yesterday -ainst Michigan State, but it wasn't enough. The Spartans defeated Michigan 70-56, spoling the homecoming of Goodlow's ' teammate, Alayne Ingram LOUIS BROWN/Dail r e Proimising yout fuel 'M' ttack Wolverines 70-56. Michigan knew that it needed to be on its best behavior for the NCAA selection committee this weekend. In Friday's victory it was. But yester- day, it seemed that the Spartans, not the Wolverines, were the ones wanting to show off. "We felt going into this weekend that we had to win the last three regular sea- son games," Michigan State coach Karen Langeland said. "We've won two of them and we've got one more to go. But there are five teams that could finish anywhere from third to eighth so I don't know what's going to happen." In order to go to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans, along with the Wolverines, must stay in the upper echelon of the conference. After Friday's victory over Illinois, Michigan coach Sue Guevara said that the team controlled its own destiny. "I told the kids that we can enjoy this until midnight," Guevara said after Friday night's game. "Then they can go home and they need to be in their beds starting to think about Michigan State. "Michigan State wants our butts big time ... we're both fighting for that fifth-place finish, and you never know what will happen because right now we are one game out of third." And by shooting only 35 percent from the field last night, when the Spartans were shooting over 50 per- cent, the Wolverines rattled their des- tiny by handing themselves the loss and the sixth place spot in the confer- ence. But don't count Michigan out of the tournament just yet. "I think you have to finish in the top half of the Big Ten to get to the NCAA Tournament," Guevara said. "For this team to do that we are going to have to have the same kind of effort" (as we did against Illinois). Though that effort was not apparent in the game against the Spartans, the Wolverines have two more chances to show the NCAA selection committee, that they deserve to be one of the elite 64. Next weekend Indiana and Iowa will travel to Crisler Arena to wrap up the Wolverines' season. And only half a game out of fifth, Michigan still has a chance to make its second straight tour- nament appearance. Ingrm 's h By Uma Subramanian Daily Sports Writer EAST LANSING -Valentine's Day was bittersweet for Michigan freshman guard Alayne Ingram. She was playing in her first game in East Lansing - a stone's throw away from her hometown of Lansing. Ingram's fans were out in force. She had her own cheering section with fans holding up "We Love Ingram" signs. There was BASKETBALL even one loyal fan Notebook with an "Alayne-------------- will you be my valentine?" poster. But though Ingram's faithful were supportive, most of the unusually large Breslin Center crowd was not. A season-high 3,595 fans filled the lower tier of the center providing an extra lift for the Spartans in their final home victory over the Wolverines, 70- 56. "It was a great crowd, they were very vocal;' Michigan State coach Karen Langeland said. 'There was no doubt that they helped us. Michigan is a young NOTABLE QUOTABLES: "We're in control of our des- tiny. Not an body else but us, we control how we perform. 'We're still in the hunt. We've got two games left, against Indiana and. Iowa, the 'I' schools, and I don't want any black eyes next Week. MICHIGAN GUAAD STACEY THOMAS: "I give my teammates all the credit in the world. I wouldn't be able to do what I've done without them." LUUIS kWN/Daily Stacey Thomas and the Michigan women's basketball team split their games this weekend, but still are hoping for a NCAA bid. ome coming not team, and it may have been a little intim- rivalry is intens idating for them. lar season mat "It really helped to have the fans be as on top. Thoriu vocal as they were. Today they were off-night, going helpful." In contrast, WHEN.IT RAINS, IT POURS: Junior for- Dalgaard score ward Kenisha Walker has not completed rebounds in 34 a single season of basketball during her But statistic career. She's not about to break that story. Dalgaar trend this year, either. ence on the def Last Sunday against Purdue, Walker Spartans to vic went down in the first half with a knee Dalgaard "h injury. This week the Wolverines last home gam announced that Walker had torn the played well, pl anterior cruciate ligament in her right plays a support knee and would be out for the rest of the times Michigar season. Pernille was on Walker's presence will be missed by SPECIAL an already shallow bench. Yesterday in 30 A RIVALRY FOR THE AGES: nation it was " Sophomore guard Anne Thorius and day. As part o Michigan State senior co-captain under eight wo Pernille ,Dalgaard are from the same women's basket town in Denmark. The two played on the ipating NCAA: same club team in Horsholm until Michigan G Dalgaard came to the United States for yesterday's gan college. daughters to wi When the two compatriots meet, the victory. sweet se. But in their final regu- chup, Dalgaard came out s had an uncharacteristic g 0-for-10 from the field. in last night's game, d 10 points and had five minutes. es don't tell the entire d's unquestionable pres- fensive end propelled the tory. ad a great game for her e," Langeland said. "She ayed defense well ... She defense in the zone. The n scored on us was when the bench." GUEST APPEARANCE: 00 universities across the Take a girl to the game" f the program, children ould be admitted free to tball games at the partic- schools. o. John Engler attended me, bringing his triplet tness the Michigan State Ca FEREI'ECE Standings and Results Conference Overall Team W L W L Purdue 14 0 23 1 Penn State 11 4 19 6 Illinois 9 5 15 9 Ohio State 8 6 15 9 Michigan State 8 7 14 11 Michigan 7 7 159 Wisconsin 7 7 12 12 Iowa 6 8 11 13 Northwestem 4 10 -10 14 Indiana 2 12 13 15 Minnesota 2 12 7 17 Yesterday's games: Penn State 88, Minnesota 56 Purdue 88, Ohio State 58 Illinois 104, Indiana 69 Iowa 864Northwestem 69 Michigar State 70, Michigan 56 Top 25 weekend results .TenseebeatNo. 17Auburn71-63. '2. Purdue beat Ohio State 88-58. 3. LouisIana Tech. beat Arkansas State 79-63. 4. Connecticut kost to No.8 Old Dominion 82-77. 5. Colorado State beat Southern Meth. 69.52. 6. Notre Dame lost to No. 9 Rutgers 77-57 7. Duke lost to No. 19 Clemson 80-75 8. Old Dominion beat No. 4 Connecticut 82-77 9. Rutgers beat No. 6 Notre Dame 77-57. 10. Georgia lost to Vanderbilt 66-s7 11. Virginia Tech beat Rhode island 64-62. 12. UCLA beat California 7661. 13. Texas Tech beat Missouri 74-68. 14. North Carolina beat No. 18 Virginia 82-80 OT n. Pem State beat Minnesota 88-56. 16. Iowa State beat Colorado 86-70. 1Z Aubum lost to No. 1 Tennessee 71-63. 19.Virginia lost to No. 14 R Caiina 82-80O0T 19. Clemson beat No.7 Duke 80-75. 20. Louisiana State beat South Carorana 80-63. 21. Kansas beat Nebraska 63-58. 22. Santa Barbara breat Padikic76-6 23. Oregon beat Washington 77-67. 24. Florida kiln. beat South Alabama 78-48 25.ANanamdidnotplay By Geoff Gagnon Daily Sports Writer Four minutes and two Stacey Thomas fouls into Friday night's Big Ten match-up with Illinois, Michigan coach Sue Guevara began to worry. With her team stumbling to a first-half deficit, Thomas, who suffered through the team's last contest at Purdue managing a mere two points, quickly joined her coach on the sidelines. *Stacey came out and picked up her second foul atid I said, 'Oh Lord, we can't go through this again, we just can't'," Guevara said. And they wouldn't, as the Wolverines mounted a second-half charge to slide past Illinois 81-79. Thomas' opportunity to join her coach on the bench came just before the conference standout had the opportunity to join only 12 other Wolverines in scoring 1,000 points in her career, a feat that occurred just moments before breaking her own season-steal record as she picked up her 90th swipe. ,,nd as Guevara's team rallied to perhaps one of the most fulfilling wins of the Big Ten season, a delighted Guevara said Thomas should be applauded for her ability to bounce back on what would prove to be a milestone evening. "When Stacey went back in there she relaxed and played much smarter defense," Guevara said. "And when the girl plays relaxed, she can flat out score." Already one of the most celebrated players to dm the maize and blue, Thomas' accomplish- ts this season have been nothing short of impressive as the Flint native has lead the Wolverines in scoring and steals all season. But what should excite Guevara and fans alike is that the former Big Ten freshman of the year has the chance to do it all again next season. Marshaling a contingency of younger players, SPLIT Continued from Page .B1 end. With 5:30 left in the second half Ann Lemire hit a three-pointer to cut the, Michigan State lead to three. "Everyone gives Kristen, Max and Pernille a lot of respect on the floor," Michigan State coach Karen Langeland said. "And Becky took advantage of this tonight, and got open to hit a lot of big shots." Actually, Cummings has taken advan- tage of the double-teaming of her team- mates quite often. In the last four games Cummings has averaged 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. With four minutes left, the Wolverines folded. Michigan lost their concentration, and their timing was off. They committed three turnovers in a short span of time, and the lead sudden- ly ballooned for the Spartans. "You know who made those turnovers?" Guevara said. "Freshmen. I am playing with baby post players. That's what happens in big games when inexperience comes into play. Michigan came out fired-up Friday night, and completed a miraculous comeback against Illinois. Throughout the game, Michigan had trailed. They were down by 12 points several times. With six seconds left Anne Thorius hit the winning shot, to give Michigan a much-needed victory. Will Moiing 'up Friday vs. Iowa Criser Arena, 7:30 p R'. Sunday vs. Indiana Criser Arena, 2:GO p.m. LOUIS BROWN/Daily Stacey Thomas, who has led a talented crew of young Wolverines, became the 12th player in school history to reach the 1,000 point mark. She'll add to that as she returns in a year for her senior season. ILLWNOIS (79)F MIN M-A UWA 0-T A F PTS Catchings 36 6-13 4-5 2-11 2 2 16 Blauser 32 6.16 5-5 2-6 4 4 17 Sheeler 36 10-11 2-4 3-7 1 4 22 Guarneri 19 0-2 0-0 0-0 4 1 0 Parker 36 6-13 0-0 1-3 2 2 16 Martin 10 0-1 4-4 1-1 0 0 4 Curtin 19 1-3 00 1-1 2 3 2 Wilson 6 0-0 010-1010 Vana 6 0-1 2-2 0-2 1 1 2 Totals 200 2960 17-21 14-3618618 79 FG%: 483. FT%: .810. 3-point FG-9 444 (Parker 4-6, Curtin 0-1, Guenari 0-2). Blocks: 2 (Blausef, Wilson). Steals: 5 (Parker 2, Blauser, Guarneri, Wilson). Turnovers: 15 ( Catchings 5, Blauser 3, Guarneri 2, Curtin 2, Sheeler, Paker, Martin). Technical Fouls: None. MICHIGAN (5I Ff REB MIN UA A - T A IF PTS Thomas 31 6.16 1-1 1-3 1 4 13 Kipping 25 3-5 0-0 3.9 0 3 6 Miller 21 3-5 0-0 4-5 1 2 6 Thorius 34 0-10 00 1-3 7 1 0 Ingram 24 3-9 0-0 0-1 1 0 7 Oesterle 7 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 2 Goodlow 27 3.5 3.4 5-7 0 2 9 Lemire 31 5-15 0-0 1-2 5 2 13 Totals 200 24467 4-5 15301715 56 FG%: .358. Fr%: .800.3-ont FG: 4-19,_211 Lemire Ingram 1-4,Thorius 0-6, Goodlow 0.1). Blocks: 1(Goodlow). Steals: 9 (Thomas 3, Thorius 2, Lemire 2, Kipping, Ingram). Turnovers: 17 (Thorius 4, Goodlow 4, Miller 3, Kipping 2. Lemire 2, Thomas, Oesterle). Technical Fouls: Done. MICHIGAN STATE (70) starting to see what's at the end of the tunnel." At times, though, that maturation process has looked bumpy. Fimhlinp thmr, oh amran i ina fivea..ime slowly. With Kipping and Goodlow, who tallied a 11 points Friday, showing signs of their emergence as potenint ot threats for the Wolverine I MIOUlgiAM J1*41 I