January 06, 2006 (vol. 116, iss. 49) • Page Image 8
… Daily Sports Writer Staring at a 10-point halftime deficit, the Michigan women's basketball team came out of the break on a mission. Freshman Jessica Minnfield started the Wolverine run with a 3-pointer…
… Krista VandeVenter. Then, Minnfield knocked down a trey from the top of the key to cut the lead to three - the smallest deficit the Wolverines (0-3 Big Ten, 6-9 overall) had faced. The fans in Crisler…
… con- tributed, hitting all three of her three-point attempts and finishing with 11 points. But the Wolverines were without Jessica Star- ling, who left the team for personal rea- sons. In the first half…
…, Michigan never led and was unable to cut the Hawkeye lead below five. Iowa started the game with a 6-0 run, and the Wolverines' notoriously aggres- sive defense hurt them early on, putting the Hawkeyes in…
… the double bonus with nine minutes remaining in the half. But Iowa couldn't capitalize, drawing just two fouls before the break. The Wolverines struggled to find an answer for 6-foot-6 Hawkeye freshman…
… prevent her from catching the ball in good position." After the Hawkeyes' strong response to the Michigan run that opened the sec- ond half, the Wolverines were unable to consistently hold the margin under…
… in front of the Wolverines' bench. But instead of starting the game, Abram could only cheerlead from the bench - sidelined with a toe injury. With the absence of one of their most consistent players…
…, the Wolverines needed someone else to step up.vv g+i Guard Dion Harris answered the call. ur In the first half, senior Daniel Horton and junior 12:0$ Courtney Sims totaled CrI'e just five points on 1…
…, Graham Brown, registered just four. The 6-foot-3 guard was also the lone Michigan player to hit a 3-point- er. Most of the Wolverines struggled to shake off their sluggish start, but Harris propelled them…
… against Purdue, Har- ris will have to maintain his aggres- sive play. With Abram's status still in question, the Wolverines will need the Detroit native's offense to continue to balance their attack…