8E - Fall 2014 Sports The Michigan Daily -michigandaily.com L WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 'season ends in NIT Women's basketball finishes 20-14, loses in 3rd round to Bowling Green By ALEXA DETTELBACH Daily Sports Editor MARCH 27, 2014, BOWL- ING GREEN, Ohio - It's safe to say the Michigan women's bas- ketball team will want to beat Bowling Green next year. Badly. The Wolverines kicked off their season with a loss to Bowl- ing Green (17-1 MAC, 30-4 over- all) in early November, and just four and a half months later, the Falcons picked up where they left off. Michigan's season ended just like it started after the Wol- verines (8-8 Big Ten, 20-14) fell 63-53 in the third round of the WNIT. In one of the loudest venues Michigan has played in this sea- son, Bowling Green pushed the Wolverines from both teams' favorite spot - the 3-point arc. The Falcons hit five of nine from beyond the arc in the first half and added four more in the sec- ond, holding Michigan to 3-for- 13 from three. Sophomore guard Madison Ristovski, who in recent weeks has become the Wolverines' most lethal long-range threat, was unable to find a rhythm. And freshman guard Siera Thompson, who has hit a three in all 35 games this season, went just 1-of-5. "I think our team really grew (between matchups with the Falcons), really improved and really found its identity," said Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico. "BowlingGreen is atough matchup, and they're extremely tough at home. They had a great atmosphere here tonight, but I think they had the edge playing here." Despite getting out of reach late, the game looked promis- ing early for the Wolverines who, after trailing for the first few minutes of the game, got a jumper from the right side of the key from junior forward Nicole Elmblad to put them up 12-10 five minutes in. The bas- ket not only marked Michigan's new program record for points in a season but also the Wol- verines' last lead of the game. From there, Michigan went tight when its baskets weren't falling. "I think this time that we played them we definitely start- ed off a lot stronger," Elmblad said. "This time we were more focused and ready to lock up on defense, but unfortunately we didn't hold that the entire first half and they were able to make a good run." With 5:02 left in the half and the game still within reach, Elmblad hit a fadeaway that put Michigan within one, but the Falcons countered with a 9-1 run to end the half, putting the Wol- verines down nine going into the locker room. Bowling Green used strong 3-point shooting, going 5-for-9 in the first 20 min- utes, to pad its lead. Unfortunately for Michigan, the second half wasn't any pret- tier. The Wolverines were once again plagued by turnovers, committing12. After beating their last two WNIT opponents by an aver- age of 38 points while commit- ting 17.5 turnovers, Michigan couldn't overcome the turnovers in conjunction with a 40-per- cent shooting night. By the end of the night the Bowling Green crowd was deafening and the Wolverines couldn't generate a last-minute spark - ending their season just like it began. GYMNASTICS From Page 1E very confident pommel horse team, and we wanted to get that one out of the way, and we did it with a bang. And that's just the wayyouwantto startthenational championship." On its third rotation of the night, vault, Michigan made uncharacteristic errors that seemingly opened the door for competitors to get back into contention. But the Wolverines slammed that door shut on the next rotation. narallel bars. Mikulak once again led Michi- gan with a score of 16.050 - only .050 less than the NCAA record, set by Mikulak himself two weeks ago at the Big Ten Champi- onships. Graduate student Syque Caesar and Hunter, with scores of 15.200 and 15.050, respectively,' also contributed to the overall score of 75.95- thehighestofany team competing. The Wolverines sealed the championship with perhaps their best performance of the night in the sixth and final rota- tion on floor exercise. Junior Hub Humphrey, participating in his rst even f the night. s'the tone for Michigan with a score of 15.15. Junior Stacey Ervin, competing despite a torn bicep, topped Humphrey's routine with a score of 15.30. But Ervin, too, was upstaged, as Mikulak's score of 16.05 was the highest on the night on floor exercise by .50 points. "We are very consistent on floor and once we got three hits out of the way, our two big guys, Stacey and Sam, finishing off the meet, we knew it," Caesar said. "Once Stacey hit, we knew we had it.Itjust made it allthat much better when Sam stuck the dis- mount andos all wentbalslitic" ALLISON FAR Sam Mikulak won the all-around national title in March, and Michigan won the team title, its second straight. t.