By JACOB GASE
Daily Sports Writer
Two
minutes
into
the
Michigan women’s basketball
team’s matchup with No. 21
Rutgers, the offense was already
working hard.
In one possession, sophomore
guard Siera Thompson missed
two 3-pointers, senior forward
Cyesha
Goree
grabbed
two
offensive rebounds but missed a
put-back shot and senior guard
Shannon Smith had to swoop in
for a quick board and layup to
prevent a complete disaster.
The early troubles were just
a sign of things to come for a
struggling
Wolverine
offense
— despite grabbing 19 offensive
rebounds, Michigan shot just 26
percent from the floor, including
an abysmal 12 percent (3-for-25)
from beyond the arc.
“It was really a different kind
of night for us,” said Michigan
coach Kim Barnes Arico. “I don’t
know if it was their pressure
that affected us so early that
got us to miss late, but we had
opportunities.”
Goree, the Wolverines’ leading
scorer and most commanding
post presence, spent most of the
second half on the bench with
four fouls, forcing Michigan to
turn to its outside game to find
an edge. Unfortunately for the
Wolverines, their shooters just
couldn’t deliver.
Michigan shot 0-for-10 from
beyond the arc in the first half
and missed five more 3s to start
the second before Smith finally
knocked one down with 10:44
remaining in the game.
Both
of
the
Wolverines’
talented
long-range
shooters
had uncharacteristically poor
days. Thompson missed her first
nine triples and finished 2-for-13
from behind the arc and 4-for-
20 from the floor. Freshman
guard Katelynn Flaherty fared
even worse coming off the
bench, missing all seven of her
3-point attempts and shooting
just 1-for-11 in total — her worst
performance since a 1-for-11
showing against Notre Dame on
Dec. 13.
“I think that in the first half,
we took quick shots, and we
took shots where we felt a lot
of pressure. With that, I wasn’t
surprised that we shot poorly,”
Barnes Arico said. “In the second
half, I thought we had open looks
that we missed, uncontested
shots. We still weren’t able to
relax.
“I rebound for Siera every
gameday, and I rebounded for her
today, and she pretty much makes
nine out of 10. For her to go and
shoot (like that) is a shock to me,
and I think it’s uncharacteristic
for her.”
But despite the offensive
cold streak, Michigan remained
within striking distance of the
Scarlet Knights throughout the
game. The Wolverines used a
zone scheme to hold Rutgers
to 38 percent shooting in the
first half, and Smith used a late
offensive surge to cut the deficit
to 49-47 with four minutes
remaining.
But yet again, the offense
failed to bail Michigan out.
Thompson and junior guard
Madison Ristovski missed two
consecutive open 3-pointers, and
Thompson and Flaherty failed to
connect on two more attempts
within the final minute to seal
the Wolverines’ fate.
“When we (hit those shots)
against Ohio State, we won the
game,” Barnes Arico said. “I
think it’s probably really crucial,
especially to the mindset of the
Rutgers kids, and probably ours
as well. We had two good looks
and missed two more shots. But
we were right there, and next
time we’ve got to make plays,
and that’s kind of what we talked
about.”
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SportsMonday
February 9, 2015 — 3B
Wolverines leave
their mark in finale
Michigan routs
MSU behind six
pool records
By TED JANES
Daily Sports Writer
Breaking records is contagious
— Just ask the Michigan men’s
swimming and diving team.
Saturday, the Wolverines broke
six pool records, two of which
had lasted for over a decade.
No. 5 Michigan (6-0 Big Ten,
10-0 overall) made the trip up
I-96 to face off with Michigan
State (0-4 Big Ten, 4-6 overall)
in East Lansing this weekend.
The Wolverines won 15 of the 16
events, dominating their in-state
rival in both the lap pool and the
diving well by a score of 178-106.
Junior Dylan Bosch led the way,
winning the 200-yard butterfly,
while setting a pool record. The
record, which was set by former
Michigan swimmer and Olympic
gold medalist Tom Malchow, had
been in place since 1997.
“To break someone’s record
who is an Olympic gold medalist
and world record holder, it’s kind
of a humbling experience,” Bosch
said. “And it’s an honor at the
same time.”
Added Michigan coach Mike
Bottom:
“To
the
swimming
world, Malchow is an icon,
and I know it was a record that
(Bosch) felt very honored to
break. Breaking records is always
something that we feel strongly
about, because we feel that
Michigan itself belongs on the
walls of Michigan State.
“Those records are something
we want to leave behind not
only for individuals, but for
Michigan.”
Another
highlight
of
the
meet came in the diving well,
where Michigan has struggled
throughout the season. In the
last regular season meet of his
career, fifth-year senior Thomas
Jahnke took first in both of his
events, the 1-meter and 3-meter
springboards.
In most meets, the diving
competition and the swim races
occur
simultaneously.
This
weekend’s meet was structured
differently, placing the diving
events during the swimmers’
breaks, allowing everyone to
come watch what was going on at
the other end of McCaffree Pool.
“It put pressure on us to
perform a little bit better, but it’s
nice to see them all there and to
show them that you’re pulling
the weight too,” Jahnke said.
“Everyone is contributing for
the team. It was cool to see them
there and to dive a little bit better
with more sense of urgency.
“This year has been pretty
up and down. In the last two
meets, with the ways those went,
it didn’t feel like we had a lot of
momentum, even though we are
going into the championship
season. It felt great to have a good
meet.”
Jahnke’s recent success came
at the perfect time, since the
next event for Michigan is the
Big Ten Championships. Despite
the pressure, Jahnke knows he
has some positive momentum
leading into the meet.
While Jahnke completed his
job in the diving end, Michigan
set records in four of the relays:
the
800-yard
freestyle,
the
200-yard medley, the 400-yard
freestyle
and
the
400-yard
medley.
Though
the
season-ending
meet did not pose much of a
challenge for the Wolverines,
the meet gave them a chance to
perfect details looking ahead to
the Big Ten Championships. The
team knows well that the bigger
challenge lies ahead.
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Wolverine upset bid falls short
By KELLY HALL
Daily Sports Writer
With 4:19 to go, Shannon
Smith
tumbled
into
a
photographer after making a
fast-break layup, pulling the
Michigan women’s basketball
team
within
two points
of
No.
21 Rutgers. The senior guard
scored six consecutive points
for the Wolverines in the final
minutes, changing the pace of
the game and breathing life into
what had been largely a clumsy
game. But it wasn’t enough, as
the Scarlet Knights held on,
57-50, at Crisler Center.
Though Smith had 19 points
and eight rebounds, it wasn’t
enough without senior forward
Cyesha Goree.
With 14:13 to go in the second
half, Goree — the Wolverines’
leading scorer — committed
her fourth foul. Because Goree
was in danger of fouling out,
Michigan coach Kim Barnes
Arico had to take her out in the
most decisive minutes of the
game.
And with three starters taller
than six feet, the Scarlet Knights
had a clear size advantage
without the 6-foot-3 Goree on
the court, allowing Rutgers to
pull down 29 defensive boards.
“It made our team much
smaller, so from an offensive
rebounding standpoint, they got
a couple on the weakside boards
that if Cyesha was in there, I
don’t think they would have
got,” Barnes Arico said. “We
were almost playing with five
guards, and we lost our inside
presence that Cyesha tried to
establish early.”
The entire first half, Rutgers
and Michigan played a back-
and-forth game with neither
team emerging as a clear leader.
But that quickly changed in
the second half. The Scarlet
Knights went on a 6-0 run
halfway through the second
frame, and Michigan (6-6 Big
Ten, 14-9 overall) missed nine
consecutive field-goal attempts.
This run ultimately decided the
game, allowing Rutgers to jump
out to a 39-27 lead.
But for a team that shot just 26
percent on the night, its defense
was what truly allowed for any
chance of late-game heroics.
When
the
Wolverines
played the Scarlet Knights in
early January, they racked up
81 points. Sunday, Michigan
utilized a zone defense that held
Rutgers to just 57. The strong
defensive play should have given
the Wolverines an early leg up,
but Michigan’s poor shooting
left it with a 24-21 deficit at the
break.
“We had some great open
looks down the stretch but
just couldn’t get them to fall,”
Barnes Arico said. “I don’t know
if it’s the accumulation of the
amount of games we’ve had in a
short turnaround, or if it’s due to
a little bit of Rutgers’ pressure —
probably a combination of both
of those things.”
In Rutgers’ first victory over
Michigan, the only thing that
kept the Wolverines in the game
was Barnes Arico’s halftime
decision to play zone defense.
Michigan played zone once
again on Sunday, hoping for a
better outcome.
“I think we did a really good
job of executing our defensive
game plan,” said senior forward
Nicole Elmblad. “We knew they
were a team that wasn’t looking
to take outside shots, so we kind
of forced them to do that.”
For the first five minutes,
Michigan seemed primed to
pull off the upset.
Goree ran circles around
Rutgers in the first half and
grabbed seven rebounds. Before
she was put on the bench in
the second to prevent her
from fouling out, she was a
major force on the glass, both
offensively and defensively.
Without
Goree
on
the
court, the Wolverines needed
someone to pick up the slack,
but that relief didn’t come
from freshman guard Katelynn
Flaherty. She was held to just
four points when she played at
Rutgers earlier this season, and
the trend continued Sunday,
with Flaherty shooting just
1-for-11.
“Rutgers
has
a
player
named Syessence Davis, who’s
arguably and probably will be
(the Big Ten) Defensive Player
of the Year,” Barnes Arico said.
“She’s probably one of the best
guard defenders in the country.
… I’m sure the matchup there is
extremely difficult. Katelynn’s
just trying to figure it all out as a
freshman and is being guarded
by one of the best players in the
country.”
In a game that was close until
the end, Michigan squandered
too many open shots to win.
“Sometimes the ball doesn’t
go in the basket,” Elmblad said.
“There’s really nothing you can
do except get back in the gym
and keep working on it.”
ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
Senior guard Shannon Smith scored 19 points and recorded eight rebounds in Michigan’s loss to Rutgers on Sunday.
RUTGERS
MICHIGAN
57
50
Michigan kicks off season
with 3-1 record in Florida
Wolverines lose to
top-ranked Gators,
win next three
By TYLER SCOTT
Daily Sports Writer
A 62-game season means
that in college softball, losses
can’t be dwelt upon. The No. 8
Michigan softball team looked
past the game it dropped against
No. 1 Florida and compiled three
consecutive wins to end its first
regular-season series of 2015.
The Wolverines lost 2-1 to the
Gators on Saturday in the USF
Classic in Tampa, Florida, and
then beat host South Florida
in the nightcap. On Sunday,
the
Wolverines
were
more
dominant,
beating
Hampton
and Illinois State with ease.
Saturday’s loss to the Gators
came in uncharacteristic fashion
against the defending national
champions. Florida’s winning
run came as the result of a wild
pitch from Michigan senior left-
hander Haylie Wagner.
Wagner, who surrendered
just two hits in 6 2/3 innings
of work, put together a strong
outing that was simply marred
by an untimely mistake.
“I was just sticking to the
same game plan,” Wagner said.
“After (the wild pitch) I knew I
would sulk on it for five minutes,
then I had to be ready for the
next situation I’m in.”
The only previous instance
when the Gators scored came
in the form of a single run in
the fourth inning. Michigan
was scoreless until sophomore
outfielder
Kelly
Christner
batted in the tying run by lacing
a double to right-center field.
With the game tied, Wagner
issued back-to-back walks to
start the bottom of the seventh
inning. A subsequent sacrifice
bunt and ground out put the
winning run at third with
only one out. Florida then hit a
three-run home run, which was
negated by a illegal substitution,
giving the Wolverines another
chance.
“(The Gators) didn’t re-enter
a kid on offense, and one of
our coaching staff noticed it,”
said Michigan
coach
Carol
Hutchins. “She
hit the home
run, then we
brought it up
to the umpire
who confirmed
that (Florida’s
coach)
didn’t
re-enter her, so
it was an illegal substitution.”
But the third and final out
was never recorded. Wagner’s
next pitch was too high for the
catcher, and allowed Florida’s
runner to score from third,
dashing any hopes for extra
innings or a Michigan comeback
in the marquee matchup of the
weekend.
“Turns out it didn’t matter,
because the next pitch was wild
and they won the game,” said
Hutchins.
Saturday marked the second
consecutive
year
Florida
defeated the Wolverines at
the same USF tournament.
Last
February,
the
Gators
were able execute a comeback
performance in extra-innings.
Minus
the
wild
pitch,
Wagner
was
every
bit
as
effective as Florida freshman
pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, who
limited Michigan to just one
run and two hits through a full
seven innings of work. Aside
from Christner, freshmen first-
baseman Tera Blanco recorded
the only other Michigan hit.
After
being
stymied
by
Florida, Michigan beat each of
its next three opponents in USF,
Hampton and Illinois State
by scores of 4-3, 9-2 and 4-1,
respectively.
Senior
right-hander
Sara
Driesenga was consistent with
her superb work in the circle
over the weekend. She notched
wins against both South Florida
and Illinois State, allowing just
one earned run in the process.
“You
just
have
to
stay
confident,” Driesenga said. “I go
out there and keep pitching how
I know I can pitch.”
Sophomore
right-hander
Megan Betsa
pitched
the
win
Sunday
morning
against
Hampton,
allowing one
earned run on
a hit and five
walks.
Against USF, the Wolverines
finally
found
some
offense
in long-ball fashion. Junior
outfielder Kelsey Susalla and
Christner hit back-to-back solo
home runs.
Junior
shortstop
Sierra
Romero also recorded her first
home-run of the year in the
game against Hampton, where
she was 3-4 at the plate and had
four RBI.
Since
her
All-American
season last year, Romero has had
to adjust with the willingness of
opposing teams to walk her in
order to keep her bat cool.
“It’s not frustrating (to be
walked),” Romero said. “Yeah
I want to hit, but I know that
taking my walk is as good as a
single.”
Despite picking up three wins
on the weekend, Hutchins was
not entirely satisfied with how
her team looked on the field.
“I
thought
we
played
tentative,”
Hutchins
said.
“I don’t think we came out
attacking.”
According
to
Hutchins,
there’s plenty of room for
improvement that picking up
wins early on has the tendency
to hide.
“The
biggest
problem
is
when you win, it doesn’t sting
as much,” Hutchins said. “We
have to make improvements,
otherwise we’re going to lose
some games.”
SOFTBALL
“I don’t think
we came out
attacking.”
‘M’ struggles behind the arc
ROBERT DUNNE/Daily
Sophomore guard Siera Thompson shot 2-for-13 from 3-point range, and Michigan was 3-for-25 as a team.