The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 11A
Offensive
powers
will clash
at CCisler
By Charles Paradis
Daily Sports Writer
Two of the Big Ten's most effec-
tive offenses will square off in a
shootout that promises to be an
exciting
matchup.
The teams CRISLER ARENA
have two
different Who:lowa(6-3 Big Ten,
styles of 13-6overall) vs. Michigan
offense, (27,_128)
and har Whe: 7 p.m.
and shar Latest:Michigan coach
one charac- Sue Guevara's new starting
teristic - lineup will have its second
p o o r chance to turn around the
defense - Wolverines' season.
that should
make the game very explosive.
"I do know that both teams are
really talking about their defenses,"
Sue Guevara said.
Despite their 6-3 record in confer-
ence play, the Hawkeyes are in the
bottom half in scoring defense in
the Big Ten, giving up 68 points per
game. The Wolverines are also
struggling defensively, giving up
seven more points per game than
Iowa.
Iowa's offense is based on superi-
or outside shooting. The perimieter
is one of the weakest areas of
Michigan's defense, only Minnesota
has given up more 3-pointers than
the Wolverines this season. With
three solid outside shooters, Michi-
gan will have its hands full trying to
prevent the Hawkeyes from draining
outside shots.
Michigan's strength will come, as
always, from inside. Post play has
been the staple of the Michigan
offense this season and it is unlikely
that things will change against the
porous defense of Iowa. LeeAnn
Bies and Jennifer Smith execute the
two-player high-low post game to.
perfection, combining for almost 30
points per game.
"Their strength is probably their,
outside game where ours is our
inside game," coach Sue Guevara
said. "So it might be a little bit of a
contrast."
Bies had the biggest game of her
Irish serve Netters first loss
By Brian Schick
Daily Sports Writer
Although the score may suggest otherwise, the Michi-
gan women's tennis team (2-1) fought hard yesterday on
the way to a 5-2 loss to No. 13
Notre Dame. NOTRE DAME 5
Sophomore Christine Nolan
and junior Joanne Musgrove MICHIGAN 2
won their singles matches in
straight sets for Michigan's only victories of the contest.
This keeps the Irish's winning streak against Michigan
alive at eight in a row.
"I thought we played well," Michigan coach Bisty Ritt
said. "In every court, they were out there fighting and
playing well. We had our chances in certain situations,
but it didn't happen."
At one point late into the singles portion of the
match, it looked like Michigan did have a chance of
defeating Notre Dame (3-0). The score of the meet was
tied 2-2 as the four remaining players were well into
their second sets. Three of the four Wolverines had lost
the first set, yet all four managed to pull ahead in their
second sets by at least one game.
Nolan won her match, and freshman Michelle DaCos-
ta won her second set to force a third and decisive set.
Freshman Leanne Rutherford and sophomore Kavitha
Tipirneni forced tie breaks against their opponents.
Tipirneni's tie break went on for nearly fifteen minutes,
which she eventually lost 13-11. Her opponent was the
Irish's senior captain Becky Varnum, who is ranked No.
58 nationally in singles.
"I think Notre Dame seemed a lot more experienced,"
Ritt said. "They looked a little bit more poised when it
got close."
Nolan's victory was her first match since the Tribe
Classic three weeks ago. She looked sharp at No. 2 sin-
gles, winning her match 6-2, 7-5 against the Irish's
Lindsay Green, who is ranked No. 28 in the Midwest
region.
"I haven't played a lot over the past few weeks."
Nolan said. "It was exciting to get out there on the court
and I really wanted to win this match. It felt good to be
back on the court."
As a result of Nolan returning to action, the Michigan
lineup was modified to compensate. DaCosta was
moved to No. 3 singles, Rutherford was No. 4, and jun-
ior Jen Duprez moved to No. 5. Musgrove and Tipirneni
found themselves in their normal sports at No. 6 and
No. 1 respectively.
Before tonight's match the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association, which is the governing body of college
tennis, released its second poll of the season, and
Michigan found itself ranked for the first time. After its
victories two week ago against Western Michigan and
DePaul, the Wolverines are ranked No. 69 in the coun-
try.
"It's a long season, and we'll have other opportuni-
ties," Ritt said of her team's chances against other
ranked teams.
DANNY MOLOSHUVK/Uaily
Sophomore Jen Smith and senior LeeAnn Bies will try to continue their success
down low against the perimiter-oriented Iowa Hawkeyes tonight.
career Sunday, scoring 36 points
against Illinois. She had struggled
earlier in the month, but has explod-
ed recently and performed beyond
expectations. Because of her suc-
cess against the Illini, Bies will
most likely draw a lot of attention
from the Iowa defense tonight. Even
if Bies cannot repeat her outstand-
ing performance, the extra attention
she draws could free up Smith for a
big game.
The two contrasting styles will be
put to the test tonight. Since both
teams are so effective offensively,
the athletes the teams put on the
floor may decide the winner. There
is no clear-cut advantage as to who
has those playmakers, but Guevara
might begrudge the Hawkeyes a
slight edge in that category.
"I think we might be bigger than
they are inside, but they might be
just a little more athletic than we
are," Guevara said.
If the game is close late, though,
the edge definitely goes to Michi-
gan. While the Wolverines are con-
verting from the charity stripe,
hitting 74.6 percent of their free
throws, Iowa ranks last in the Big
Ten, converting on just 62.2 percent
of their foul shots.
Michigan will also have the
offense it lost against Illinois back
for the game. While the formerly
suspended Tabitha Pool, Stephanie
Gandy and Katrina Mason will not
start the game tonight, they will
most likely get some playing time.
The team still has eight games left
in the conference and just wants to
move on.
"The train's going forward, you're
either on or you're off," Guevara
said. "There is no in between."
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