10 - The Michigan Daily-_Friday,_February 23, 2001 FRIDAY Focus Appropriately enough, this Leonardo da Vinci sculpted statue can be found in Grand Rapids, home of the women s Big Ten i~14 e cu Basketball Tournament. As teams jockey for postseason position, the end of the regular season has become a horse race. tyoU First thing s first: the Lions den By David Roth Daily Sports Writer As if it were standing with one leg on each side of the San Andreas Fault when the Big One erupts, the Michi- gan women's basketball team must make the jump. The leap east would find the Wolverines staying back with the rest of the country's mediocre teams in a WNIT bid. But a leap west would find Michigan afloat on an island with the elite. Registering first on coach Sue Gue- vara's seismograph is an ESPN-tele- vised game against No. 18 Penn State this Sunday. Second is the Big Ten Tournament, which starts March 1, in Grand Rapids. "There's only two games left we're guaranteed of playing - that's it," Guevara said. The Wolverines head to State Col- lege fairly unsure of their status. Although Michigan has already beaten Penn State once this season, its most recent result was an embarrassing loss to Indiana last Sunday. Against Indiana, "there wasn't one player that could have hit a layup, let alone an open jumper," Guevara said. "I know that they're upset enough with themselves that they'll respond. We've been able to rebound from a loss like that and play well." Freshman Stephanie Gandy doesn't :need to have experience like Guevara's under her belt to realize the impor- tance of the Penn State game. "It's a must-win," Gandy said. "But we've got to practice our defense so when we get in the game we can con- tain all the good players that they have." To beat the Nittany Lions, Michigan must put an effort of a caliber equal to its 71-62 win against them on Jan. 11. "I'm looking for the same type of defensive pressure and intensity that I saw the first time we played Penn State, Guevara said. "Right now we're pretty optimistic about Penn State and that's about as far as I want them to think." The Wolverines are fully aware that a season-defining tournament lurks only days away. "We all have a passion for basket- ball and we don't want to see our sea- son end any time soon," co-captain Anne Thorius said. For that to happen, Michigan can't let its emotions take over. Be it coinci- dence or not, a pattern has developed where the Wolverines follow a huge win with a horrible defeat. Any defeat in the tournament would give Guevara and her crew an early checkout. "Obviously it's not something we do on purpose, but it's time to for us find the consistency within ourselves," Thorius said. If Michigan beats Penn State and makes progress in the Tournament, there's a good chance the Wolver- ines can make the NCAA Tourna- ment. Michigan has 16 wins to date, and Guevara feels that it will take 18 to get an invitation to the Big Dance. Two wins almost ensure a bid, while two losses ensure a WNIT bid. "If we lose our next two games, The ladies in maize and blue have a legitimate shot to take home a Big Ten Tournament crown and win an automatic NCAA Tournament bid if they can throw their inconsistent play out te, window on their bus to Grand Rapids. With freshmen Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Gandy coming of age, senior co- captain Anne Thorius flaunting her status as the assister sister and Alayne !* Ingram finding herself within striking distance from anywhere on the court, Michigan hopes to find its stride for the postseason. The Workhorses * Back (court) of the pack Anne Thoxius The senior co-captain acted as the primary source of leadership this year on a team that was sorely lacking in that department Thorius became the first Michigan player to reach 500 ssists for her career on senior night at Crisler. Handucappang the field Ak fid The Darkhorses OWNER: Ohio State TRAINER (COACH): Beth Burns Top JOCKEY: Jamie .Lewis (8.1 apg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 14, W (76-68); Jan. 21, L 63-76 FINAL GAME: Sun., at Wisconsin SEED: No. 8 OWNER: Michigan State TRAINER (COACH): Joanne McCallie Toe JOCKEY: Julie Pagel (7.9 rpg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 25, L (49-58) FINAL GAME: Sun., vs. Minnesota SEED: No. 9 OWNER: Minnesota TRAINER (COACH): Cheryl Littlejohn ToP JOCKEY: Lindsey Whalen (17.1 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Feb. 1, L (51-69) FINAL GAME: Sun., at Minnesota SEED: No. 10 OWNER: Northwestern TRAINER (COACH): June Olkowski JOCKEY: Emily Butler (12.7 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 18, L (41-83); Jan. 28, L 59-74 FINAL GAME: Sun., vs. Indiana SEED: No. 11 OWNER: Purdue TRAINER (COACH): Kristy Curry Top JOCKEY: Camille Cooper (14.2 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Dec. 30, W (65-54); Feb. 4, W (73-64) FINAL BIG TEN RECORD: 14-2 SEED: No. 1 OWNER: IOWa TRAINER (COACH): Lisa Blunder ToP JOCKEY: Lindsey Meder (17.4 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 7, W (79- 58); Feb. 15, L (78-80) FINAL GAME: Sun., at Illinois POSSIBLE SEEDS: No. 2-4 OWNER: Penn State TRAINER (COACH): Rene Portland Top JOCKEY: Kelly Mazzante (19 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 11, L (62-71) FINAL GAME: Sun., vs. Mich. POSSIBLE SEEDS: No. 2-4 OWNER: Wisconsin TRAINER (COACH): Jane Albright ToP JOCKEY: Jessie Stomski (16 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Jan. 4, W (85- 52) FINAL GAME: Sun., vs. Ohio State POSSIBLE SEEDS: No.2-4 OWNER: Michigan TRAINER (COACH): Sue Guevara Top JOCKEY: Anne Thorius (5 apg) FINAL GAME:: Sun., at Penn State POSSIBLE SEEDS: No. 5-7 OWNER: Illinois TRAINER (COACH): Theresa Grentz TOP JOCKEY: Allison Curtin (14.2 ppg) VERSUS MICHIGAN: Dec. 28 L (57- 68); Feb. 11, L (60-74) CHUM. flAuc. Cn irov Iw Purdue is no Secretariat but still clinched the Big Ten regular season handily last weekend by more than doubling up Minnesota. With two losses and a dou- ble overtime win t Ohio State, the Boilermak- ers are vulnerable, epite being a national power. Iowa is the Cinderella of the Big Ten. With wins over perennial conference powers Pur- due and Penn State, the Hawkeyes have emerged as a lock for the big dance. As a team without national attenton, look for them to give the Boilermakers and Nittany Lions a run for their money, again. Penn State has been the Big Ten's biggest disappointment this season. After reaching the Final Four in Philadelphia last year, the Nittany Lions have dropped some eycon- ference es. Its spot at the dance assured, look for nn State to stake their claim of a high bid at the BTT. The Badgers are the biggest team in the conference, and their height ays bi divi- dends on the court. Last yea s cham- pions handed Mchig its worst loss of the year with a 33-po'i nlowout. Wisconsin dominated the olverines on the inside at both ends of the court Anne Tholdus JESSICA JOHNSON/Daily post positions Stephanie Candy The "Gandy Dancer" has been a dia- per dandy in her first year. She earned a place in the starting lineup by shooting .492 from the field. Her versatility and scrappy rebounding have been an unexpectedblessing. Jennifer smith At 6-foot-3, the freshman has made an immediate impact in the post. Her 26- point effort against No.25 Iowa in the final horn game propelled the Wolver ines towar s a muc needed upset LeeAnn Dies Bies has been, until recently, the most consistent player for Michigan. After makin wve asone of te tofrs man in the conference last year, Bies has contributed by leading the team in rebounding and points. Raina Coodlow The six-foot-two Goodlow is one of three "Gentle Giants that have lacked the intensity that coach Sue Guevara has yearned for all season. Her 10.7 pots and 4.8 rebounds per game keep Raina Goodlow hier a vital part of the rotation. MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily Alayne Ingram Ingram, a junior, started the year at shooting guard but can bring the ball up the court. On occasion, her energy will serve as a spark for the team - ~particularly in big games like the 71-62 t of Penn State on January 11. heather Oestere Oesterle has been in and out of the rotation due to inconsistent shooting. She is one of the team's primary 3- point threats. A smart player prone to cold streaks, Oesterle has the potential to make some noise. In order to secure the No. 5 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan must win at Penn State - which is coming off a victory over Purdue - and needs Iowa to defeat Illinois this Sunday. The No. 5 seed gets a first- round-bye. Illinois was ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll but has yet to fulfill expectations. Its biggest victo- ry came st Penn State. Illinois will likelyve to win at least two 4, The Trainer Coach Sue Guevara is four wins shy of being the most prolific Michigan women's Conference Overall Team I I w I ~uI I W AM -U i