4B — April 3, 2017
SportsMonday
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wolverines finally get to cut down net
DETROIT — The Michigan
women’s basketball team has been
in existence for 44 seasons. Prior
to Saturday, the Wolverines —
despite several NCAA Tournament
and Women’s National Invitation
Tournament appearances — did
not have a banner in Crisler Center
to show for those 44 years. Nor had
they ever been able to cut down the
net at an arena before.
That all changed with Michigan’s
89-79, triple-overtime victory in
the WNIT championship game
against Georgia Tech. Starting next
season, the Wolverines can look up
in Crisler Center and see a banner
of their very own, a tangible reward
for over four decades of hard work.
“I think we had a refuse to lose
mentality,” said Michigan coach
Kim Barnes Arico. “They refused
to go away and it was just awesome
to watch.”
Though the Michigan players
received trophies and exchanged
hugs and autographs immediately
after the game, the most exciting
event for the Wolverines was
cutting down the net at Calihan
Hall. The Wolverines took turns in
the first-ever net-cutting ceremony.
First up with the scissors was
sophomore center Hallie Thome,
whose heroics played a huge role
in putting Michigan in the WNIT
championship
game.
Coming
into Saturday’s game, Thome had
netted at least 20 points in three of
Michigan’s five WNIT games.
Despite missing her first three
shots, Thome once again proved
indispensable for the Wolverines.
She finished the game with 25
points, including eight in the third
quarter, which allowed Michigan
to take a 43-42 lead into the fourth
frame.
“I’m really proud of everyone,
definitely
going
into
all
the
overtimes and not giving up, and
still giving the same amount of
effort each time,” Thome said.
“Coach Arico had talked about it,
we ran so much during preseason
and just how we can outrun them
and keep pushing. If it’s a battle on
the run, we’ll be able to make it, so
I think it definitely helped in our
favor at the end of the game.”
Yet if junior guard Katelynn
Flaherty wasn’t mobbed by fans
and reporters, perhaps she would
have gotten first dibs at trimming
the net. Flaherty was named the
WNIT’s Most Valuable Player after
scoring 21.3 points per game in the
tournament and netting 27 against
the Yellow Jackets.
While Flaherty, like Thome,
struggled early in the game,
she
came
through
when
it
mattered
most
for
Michigan.
As
the
Wolverines
trailed
Georgia Tech 67-61 with 1:06
remaining in regulation, Flaherty
singlehandedly erased Michigan’s
deficit with two 3-pointers to force
overtime. She netted five more
points in the overtime periods in
order to ensure that she would have
her turn with a pair of scissors.
“This is great,” Flaherty said.
“It’s awesome to be able to win a
championship and put your school
on the map. This is the result of all
our hard work all year whether we
made the NCAA Tournament or
not. It’s a great moment.”
Junior forward Jillian Dunston
took her turn with the scissors
between Thome and Flaherty.
Although Dunston’s point totals
in the WNIT were dwarfed by
Thome’s
and
Flaherty’s,
she
led the Wolverines in rebounds
through the first five games of the
tournament with 41.
Dunston played no small part
in
Michigan’s
championship
victory either. During the second
overtime period, she pulled down
four boards and made both of her
free throws, which propelled the
Wolverines into the decisive third
extra frame.
“I told myself my free-throw
percentage this year was subpar,”
Dunston said. “So I was like, ‘This is
the last game. You have to go 2-for-
2.’ So I was locked and loaded at the
line. Luckily they went in.”
But the most emotional player
after Michigan’s win may have
been senior guard Siera Thompson,
who is the Wolverines’ all-time
leader in minutes played. She
lived up to her no-rest reputation
Saturday, playing all 55 minutes
and tallying 15 points, eight assists
and four rebounds in the process. It
was fitting, then, that she was the
one dribbling the ball in the waning
seconds of the game before tossing
it in the air in celebration.
“It was surreal,” Thompson said.
“You dream about that when you’re
a kid — winning a championship
in college, it’s great. It’s a surreal
feeling I’m so happy. I’m happy for
myself and my teammates and my
coaches.”
Though
Michigan
is
understandably
proud
of
its
WNIT
championship,
the
Wolverines attention will now
turn to the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan made earning a bid in
the tournament a top goal at the
beginning of the season and was
stunned when it found itself outside
the 64-team field.
Yet whatever happens from
now on, everyone who walks into
Crisler Center will see a new team
represented in the rafters. And the
Wolverines will always be able to
say that they got to trim the net
after a championship win.
NATHANIEL CLARK
Daily Sports Writer
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Sophomore center Hallie Thome was the first to cut down the nets after Michigan won the WNIT on Saturday.
Flaherty named MVP of WNIT
DETROIT — With 1:09 left
on the clock in the second
quarter of the Women’s National
Invitational
Tournament
championship
game,
junior
guard Katelynn Flaherty laid
on the baseline in the defensive
zone wrestling to get Georgia
Tech’s leading scorer, Zaire
O’Neil, off of her.
Then O’Neil elbowed her in
the face.
Flaherty’s jaw dropped in
shock and she looked over at
Michigan coach Kim Barnes
Arico, who watched furiously
from the sidelines. Flaherty
pulled herself up and jogged
down the court shaking her
head to catch up with the play.
As she cut across the top of the
arc, O’Neil guarded her closely.
Flaherty had enough. She
lowered
her
shoulder
and
knocked into O’Neil, who let
herself fall and skid back several
feet.
Flaherty earned her second
foul, but didn’t look remorseful.
She was having a tough time.
The normally 20-point scorer
had just seven points, and
missed every field goal attempt
in the first quarter. By the
second
quarter,
the
Yellow
Jackets’ pep band was chanting
“airball” every time Flaherty
was in a scoring position, after
two of her first shots fell short of
the net.
“I was just frustrated at that
point,” Flaherty said. “My shots
really weren’t falling and then
I had a stupid foul on the way
back. After that my team talked
to me and I kind of just settled
down and that helped me get
back into the flow of the game.”
Still,
Flaherty
found
a
different way to contribute for
the Wolverines in her work from
the free-throw line. She drew
as many fouls as she could, and
her strategy started working.
She shot 7-for-9 from the charity
stripe, earning more attempts
than anyone on either team. She
avoided attempting 3-point tries
in favor of driving down low and
drawing fouls, and attempted
just two field goals in the entire
third quarter.
But with 5:08 left on the
clock in the fourth quarter,
the Wolverines trailed by four
points and it was time to shoot
again. Flaherty aimed from the
arc and missed her first attempt,
but after a hard-fought rebound
by
senior
guard
Danielle
Williams, Flaherty was blessed
with a second shot from the
same location. This time it went
in.
Flaherty’s
confidence
was
back, and when Michigan was
back in offensive range 30
seconds later, she shot from
beyond the arc and scored again.
Despite her earlier shooting
difficulties, Flaherty was tied
with sophomore forward Hallie
Thome for a team-high 19 points.
Despite Flaherty’s success,
the Wolverines still trailed by
one. Georgia Tech seemed an
unstoppable force in the paint,
while Michigan struggled to
finish its shots. The deficit
grew to five with just over a
minute left, and a win looked
improbable.
But Flaherty still had a few
tricks up her sleeve. With 1:06
on the clock, she launched a shot
from several feet outside the arc,
and it sunk through the netting.
Just three points differentiated
the Wolverines and the Yellow
Jackets.
Then, with 10 seconds left,
Flaherty did it again.
“How crazy of Kate,” said
sophomore
guard
Nicole
Munger. “That one three was
NBA range, amazing shot, hand
in her face. And then it was just
like, ‘Wow, we’re alive.’ She kept
us afloat. She kept us alive. And
all we kept saying was just get to
overtime, just get to overtime.”
Georgia Tech was not able to
capitalize on its last-second free
throws that could have given
the Yellow Jackets a victory, and
Flaherty found herself playing
another five minutes.
“It was a big relief,” said
senior guard Siera Thompson.
“(Flaherty) is a great player.
She loves taking big shots and
we want her to take all the big
shots. She delivers every time.
We have all the faith in Katelynn
Flaherty, and I’m so happy she
hit those shots tonight.”
But in overtime, Flaherty
missed her first 3-point attempt.
Then she missed a layup, and
then another. Yet sophomore
forward
Hallie
Thome
had
picked up a layup, and senior
Danielle Williams made a free
throw, tying the single 3-pointer
made by the Yellow Jackets.
Flaherty had done her job and
put her team in a position to take
the game over.
The Wolverines went into
double overtime, where Flaherty
earned her last 2 points, helping
to keep the score tied and
send Michigan into its third
overtime. The tired Wolverines
outlasted Georgia Tech, scoring
13 points in the final overtime
to finally take home the WNIT
championship.
Without Flaherty, Michigan
could not have earned it’s first
ever banner — so it was no
surprise when she was named
tournament MVP.
“It’s indescribable,” Flaherty
said. “I can’t put it into words
right now. … We just really
wanted to be successful this
season. We faced a lot of
adversity and had so many
setbacks, so it’s incredible to end
the season on a win.”
AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily
Junior guard Katelynn Flaherty led the Wolverines to a title with a game-high 27 points against the Yellow Jackets.
MAGGIE KOLCON
Daily Sports Writer
ICE HOCKEY
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Wolverines wrap up
season with banquet
The Michigan hockey team
had its final official meeting of the
2016-17 season at the Junge Family
Center on Sunday. The Wolverines
were honored with the program’s
annual banquet at the Dekers Club.
The banquet was an awards
ceremony and a time to honor the
roster’s six seniors — Evan Allen,
Max Shuart, Alex Kile, Nolan
De Jong, Kevin Lohan and Zach
Nagelvoort — and reflect on the
previous season.
Michigan’s season ended in
the first round of the Big Ten
Tournament with a 13-19-3 overall
record, and most speakers focused
on the future of the program
rather than reflecting on the past.
Michigan coach Red Berenson
did not fail to acknowledge
the
team’s
record,
though,
highlighting
the
improvement
that would be necessary next
season. Berenson did not comment
on whether or not he would be
returning as the head coach for the
2017-18 season.
He announced that a meeting
with Michigan Athletic Director
Warde Manuel would take place
later this week to assess the
coaching situation and determine
the plan for next year.
The honors were awarded as
follows:
Carl
Isaacson
Memorial
Award for Academic Athlete of
the Year — junior defenseman
Sam Piazza
Piazza,
a
mechanical
engineering
major
at
the
University,
received
academic
All-Big Ten honors for the second
season in a row. Piazza received
the award for his performances on
the ice and in the classroom.
Dekers
Club
Award
for
Most Colorful Rookie of the
Year — freshman forward Will
Lockwood
The Most Colorful Rookie of the
Year award goes to the freshman
on the team who has proven to
have a prominent impact on the
ice. Lockwood was chosen as the
recipient out of the 11 freshmen on
the roster.
Alton D. Simmons Award for
Most Improved Player — senior
forward Evan Allen
Allen received most improved
honors after recording six goals
and six assists in 28 games he
played in this season. His 12 points
tripled his output from last season,
when he ended with four points in
24 games.
Howard Colby Award for
Sportsman of the Year — junior
defenseman Sam Piazza
Piazza was also named to
the
Big
Ten
Sportsmanship
team. Piazza received a Big Ten
Honorable Mention this season
while also serving as an assistant
captain in senior defenseman
Kevin Lohan’s absence.
Vic Heyliger Award for Most
Outstanding Defenseman of the
Year — sophomore Joe Cecconi
Cecconi served on Team USA’s
preliminary roster for the World
Junior Champion team and won
a gold medal in the championship.
He also scored his first career goal
against Wisconsin and recorded
seven assists this season.
Doc Losh Trophy for Scoring
Leader of the Year — freshman
forward Jake Slaker
The freshman ended the season
with seven goals and 14 assists
over the course of 35 games to lead
the team with 21 points.
Hal Downes Trophy for Most
Valuable Player — freshman
forward Will Lockwood
Lockwood tallied eight goals
and 12 assists for 20 points across
30 games.
Joseph E Barss Award for
the True Team Player – senior
goaltender Zach Nagelvoort
Chosen for his dedication to his
team, Nagelvoort was awarded the
True Team Player award.
LANEY BYLER
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan remains
undefeated in B1G
The wheels on the No. 9
Michigan women’s tennis team
just keep on rolling.
The
Wolverines
defeated
Wisconsin
(0-7
Big
Ten,
4-12 overall) on Friday and
Minnesota
(2-4,
10-9)
on
Sunday. With the wins, the
Wolverines remain perfect in
Big Ten play, and now have six
consecutive wins (5-0, 13-3).
The Golden Gophers saw a
glimpse of hope after winning
the doubles point in dramatic,
tie-break
fashion.
But
the Wolverines
quickly
thrashed
any
confidence
that Minnesota
may have had,
winning every
singles
match
to
take
the
6-1
victory.
After
beating
Wisconsin
on
Friday,
4-0,
Michigan
impressively dropped only one
match on the weekend.
“We work on the doubles,
and we take pride in our
doubles,” said Michigan coach
Ronni Bernstein. “But with the
format, it’s tough to win every
doubles point.”
Singles play has been a
strength for Michigan this
year.
With
the
wins
this
weekend it has improved to
20-1 in conference action. The
team looks strong from top
to bottom led by sophomore
Brienne Minor in the No. 1
spot for the weekend. Minor
appeared
confident
on
the
court and bounced back after
losing the second set, to take
the win 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
“I think we are solid all the
way down,” Bernstein said.
“We have a shot one through
six, and I don’t know if we’ve
had that all the time in years
past, so I feel like we have a
really solid singles lineup.”
Junior
Alex
Najarian
proved
her
coach’s
point,
providing stability at the No.
3 spot. Najarian’s net play was
flawless, and she used it to
capitalize on two break-point
opportunities,
allowing
her
to take the first set, 6-3. After
trading leads in the second set,
Najarian broke serve to ignite
a two-game swing, taking a
6-5 lead by winning a crucial
deuce point. Najarian secured
the victory for Michigan by
winning her match in a tie
break 6-3, 7-6(2).
Najarian was
conscious about
the
different
weapons
she
used
on
the
court
in
Sunday’s
matchup,
and
although
her
serve was not
up to her own
standards,
she
managed to get
the job done.
“Usually (it’s) my serve, but
today it wasn’t very on so then I
rely somewhat on my backhand
and my volleys, just not my
forehand,” Najarian said with
a chuckle.
The Wolverines continue to
improve as their season nears
the heart of conference play.
Taking one matchup at a time
seems to be working, as they
continue to ride their unbeaten
streak. Yet Michigan will be on
the road for three straight away
matches, which could be a test
of the strength of this talented
team.
Bernstein, though, doesn’t
seem overly concerned.
“We have a tough weekend
coming up with three on the
road, but I feel like we have
played a really tough schedule,”
Bernstein said. “The goal is
obviously to get better and
peak in May, so I think we are
headed in the right direction
for sure.”
ALAN SELZER
For the Daily
“We work on
the doubles, we
take pride in
our doubles.”