Page 8-The Michigan Daily-Sports Monday-January21, 1991 F0 COURTL Women head 'back to Women drop two on the road the basics' after losses by Albert Lin Daily Basketball Writer CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Michigan lost two games this weekend, but hopefully these losses will not go for naught. The Wolverines now know what they must do to get on the winning track: go back to basics. All the problems of this weekend can be tied to mental awareness. The things Michigan did not do on the court were a result of a lack of focus.. Many baskets this weekend were scored on individual efforts, whether one-on-one moves or offensive putbacks. The few open jumpers Michigan got were the result of passes from the low post. But the Wolverines took most of their shots with a defender in their face. And the reason for all this? The lack of a fundamental basketball skill. In fact, it is a talent that does not even require much basketball ability: setting screens. It does not take a whole lot to be able to stand in someone's way, so your teammate can get open. Yet that is just what did not happen. "We're not headhunting; we're just not screening and setting the picks we need," senior Carol Szczechowski said. "We have to screen if we're going to run an offense," Michigan coach Bud VanDeWege said. "We never really were fluid offensively in either game. I just hope (the team) learns something about the need to screen, and the need to make sharper cuts. You can't make rounded cuts against a man- to-man and expect to get open." Patience is another attribute the Wolverines lacked; an ability to not panic when the other team is playing tough. "We're not staying in the offense," Szczechowski said. "We're getting out of the offense too easily because of the good defensive pressure." .. "We always want to make the play in the first ten seconds," redshirt frosh Michelle Hall said. "We have a lot of time we should be using." The Wolverine offense was also hindered by another aspect of the mental game. Hall admitted that there were times when she was not in the right place on the floor. How can a team function if, when running plays, members are not even where they are supposed to be? This is clearly not a lack of ability, but a lack of concentration. Finally, there was something that absolutely should not happen. Basketball people will tell you that shooting free throws involves mostly concentration. After all, getting a shot off with no one in your way is not difficult. Yet, on Sunday, Michigan shot a dismal 43 percent from the line. There was one stretch in the first half, when on five of six possessions, the Wolverines missed the front end of a one-and-one. It seemed like the Illini were fouling on purpose, knowing that they would get the ball back with no harm done. Michigan must shore up these difficiences before the season progresses any further. If not, everyone will be in for a long, unpleasant ride. by Albert Lin Daily Basketball Writer CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Michigan women's basketball team found out this weekend just how tough winning on the road in the Big Ten can be. After suffering a defeat Friday night at Purdue, the Wolverines fell to Illinois yes- terday, 81-66. "I am a little disappointed be- cause we're better than this, better than the way we're playing," Michigan coach Bud VanDeWege said. "But Illinois was the better team today - there is no question they outplayed us." In a game similar to its matchup with the Boilermakers, Michigan (8-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) fell behind big at the half against the Illini, 44-30, but man- aged to claw back to a 57-52 deficit. At that point, Illinois junior Sharmella Walker took over. Walker scored 12 of her 20 points in the last nine minutes, as the Illini (7-9,;4-2) put the game out of reach. "We just couldn't get over that hump," Michigan guard Carol Szczechowski (27 points) said. "It's hard to go down by that much at halftime and come back, let alone get over that other hump, especially when you're on the road." "I knew going in, it was going to be a game we needed to play well and play hard for 40 min- utes," Illinois coach Kathy Lind- sey said. "I thought our defensive effort was probably one of our bet- ter ones for the season. I don't think there was much time for them to rest." The big difference in the game was in the paint and, subsequently, at the foul line. Illinois had 24 more attempts than the Wolver- ines, who were frequently frus- trated by the Illini's big people. Even though Illinois didn't reach the penalty situation in the second half, VanDeWege was not upset by the officiating. "(The free throw disparity) was clearly a case of our inability to get the ball inside... and their abil- ity to do so," VanDeWege said. "I did not think the game was poorly officiated." The Wolverines didn't help their cause in the first half by missing the front half of five one- and-ones. "I think our free throw shooting just killed us - absolutely killed us," VanDeWege. Despite their inability at the line, the Wolverines hung tough in the first half, playing the Illini even through the first twelve min- utes. But Illinois began to pull away, opening up a ten-point lead. With 33 seconds remaining in the half, Wolverine Jen Nuanes was called for a foul. VanDeWege protested and was assessed a tech- nical. Mandy Cunningham sank all four free throws to give Illinois a twelve-point lead. "I don't think it's appropriate that I got a technical for what I said," VanDeWege admitted. "Ob- viously, it hurt at that time to give up four quick points." Friday night, the Boilermakers (15-1, 6-0) showed why they are No. 8 in the country, by trouncing Michigan 72-52. The pivotal point of the game came at the 14-minute mark of the second half. With Purdue leading 47-40, Michigan threw the ball on MICHIGAN (66) Plamcr TFG FT R A PF TP McCal 2.-5 0-1 3 2 2 4 VanSte 0.2 2-2 4 1 0 2 Sczec owski 12-18 3-5 6 7 2 27 Loerw 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 Nuanes 1-S 0-0 4 1 1 2 Beaudry 03 0-3 5 0 5 0 Wooldridge 02 0-0 0 1 1 0 Jones 2.3 0-1 3 1 0 4 Durnd 6-12 1-2 4 3 1 Andrew 6-10 0-0 6 0 4 1 Hall 1-9 0-0 5 1 4 2 Jokisch 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0 Totals 30-69 6-14 44 18 2166 3-pt goals: 05 (Szc chowski 0-2, Nuanes 02. Durand 0 1) 0%-..435, 3-pt P0%. .000, FT%- .429. Bks: 6 ( An- drew4,Nuanes 1,Hall 1).Tunovers: 19.steals: 3(Mc- Call 1, Szczachowski 1. Wooldridge 1). ILLINOIS (81) Plan1, TFG FT R A PF TP Estey 1-4 2-2 2 11 1 4 Roach 0-0 0-0 0 0 2 0 Booker 1-3 0.0 2 3 2 2 Klinger 2,3 0-0 0 3 1 C wmingham 5-13 10.12 10 1 2 Sharp 3-10 6-6 5 2 3 13 Walker 5-7 10-12 9 0 2 20 Riley 1-4 1-2 7 2 2 3 Wars 6-21 3-4 9 0 4 15 Totals 24-65 32.38 46 22 19 81 3-pt. goals: 1-6 (Sharp 1-3, Cunningham 0-3). FG%-.369. .3-pt. FG%-.167. FT%-.842. Biks: 1 (Waters 1). Turnovers. 12. Steals: 10(Estey 3, Sharp 2, Waters 2, Booker 1, Roach 1 Walkcr 1). consecutive possessions directly into the hands of Boilermaker Joy Holmes, who scored on two break- aways to put Purdue up by 11. TA Wolverines didn't get any clos the rest of the game. I, Men's by Kevin Sundm Daily Sports Writer track makes strides at Michigan Relays* an The Michigan men's track team entered the Michigan Relays look- ing for some hint of early-season improvement, but it was greeted with only mixed results. The team had some notable performances, but Michigan coach Jack Harvey wasn't entirely satis- fied with his team's effort. "We had some bright spots, but we still have some areas where we need guys to make the necessary improvements to help the team," Harvey said. The Wolverines' strongest event at the meet was the Invita- tional Mile, in which the team gar- nered four of the top six places. Seniors Brad Barquist and Neal Newman took second and third, re- spectively, while junior Dan Oden captured fourth.; The squad also had two NCAA provisional qualifying efforts. So- phomore Dan Reddan cleared 7' 1/2" in the high jump, while junior Jerry Douglas posted a time of 7.38 in the 55 meter hurdles. These performances could be enough to get them into the NCAA indoor meet if not enough partici- pants qualify through the auto- matic qualifying standards in both events. The Wolverines were predict- ably strong in the pole vault where senior Brad Darr and frosh Toby Van Pelt finished second and fourth, respectively, both clearing a height of 16' 6 1/2". In the shot put, junior Mike Hennessey continues to make strides in bettering his first-place effort of a week ago by claiming second place this week with a toss of 52' 3 1/4". "You can't expect a whole lot early in the season," Harvey said. "But some of our guys know they can definitely do better. We still have a long way to go, but I would like to think we are on our way to becoming a very competitive team." NN :: .:n'"^.J,:: ,., "firM...:fi~wv.n.":Jt r MO°9 ' '' .c'- (4, : : r:> s. , J f 4' +' Nr' . .. / '1 + i_ ...._.,eeL319f4__"" <\*129 :~ Victorious Bills, Giants head to Empire State Super Bowl BUFFALO (AP) - The Buffalo The Bills, seemingly unable to Bills had the no-huddle and the Los wait to get to Tampa for their first Angeles Raiders had no chance. Super Bowl, didn't huddle, didn't try to eat up the clock and didn't take one step backward Sunday in a record-setting 51-3 rout of t* Raiders for the AFC Championship. The Bills (15-3) overwhelmed the Raiders from the beginning, scoring a record 41 points in the first half, operating almost exclusively from the no-huddle attack and the shotgun. :.:. . Thurman Thomas ran over, around, and through the befuddled Raiders as the Bills piled up 503 to- tal yards. Thomas showed exactly why l# led the NFL in total yardage with 170 yards in the opening half. He finished with 138 rushing, five re- ceptions for 61 yards and scored the second touchdown on a 12-yard run. It was the Bills' first champi- onship since winning the AFL title in 1965, the year before the first Super Bowl. GIANTS 15, 49ERS 13 SAN FRANCISCO - Lawrenc' Taylor, the Giants' superstar linebacker and undisputed leader, recovered a fumble by Roger Craig to set up Matt Bahr's 42-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to give the Giants a 15-13 victory and ruin the the 49ers' bid for an un- precedented third straight Super Bowl championship. Bahr's fifth field goal of tho game, tying a playoff record, gave the Giants their second NFC cham- pionship in five years and sent them into next Sunday's Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills. With 2:36 left, quarterback Joe Montana out of the game with a bruised sternum and the 49ers lead- ing 13-12, as Craig ran into the link Giants nose tackle Erik Howar- poked the ball loose. Taylor caught it in the air at the New York 43. Seven plays later, from the 24, Bahr kicked the winning field goal just inside the left upright and kicked the 49ers out of the history books. American Exress Announces A Great New Travel Program. Now students can get the Card and get 3 roundtrips on Continental Airlines, for only $129 or $189 each. 48 contiguous states. And you can fly almost anytime-because there are no blackout dates. But you must make your reservations within 14 days of the day you leave. And the maximum stay is 7 days/'6 nights and must include a Saturday night. - In addition to this great travel program, you'll also enjoy all the benefits of Cardmembership as well as other exclusive student privileges. They include a quarterly magazine filled with informa- tive articles on summer jobs, careers, campus life. Plus valuable discounts from leading retailers. But remember, there's only one way to get all this-and that's by getting the American Express Card. Just call us (have your bank : ; address and account number on hand). What's more, kianko'~s k44 COPIES with this couponf 8 1/2 X 11, white, Wtfserve or auto fed only expires 41 3091 Open 24 Hours 4 r There's only one way to cover a lot of territory without spending a lot of money And that's by getting the American Express* Card. It's the only card that offers an exciting new travel program. exclusively for students-including three roundtrip certificates on Continental Airlines. w"49 Y E , I :19MMAle, ,,-