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Women's cagers drop final two games to ranked foes

For the third time in four years, the Michigan women's basketball team has finished the regular season with one or fewer conference victories.

The Wolverines (1-15 Big Ten, 7-19 overall) fell to No. 11 Wisconsin, 88-63, yesterday at Crisler, and to No. 7 Iowa, 74-52, Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Yesterday, Michigan was overmatched by the Badgers (12-4, 20-6).

Wisconsin grabbed the early lead, thanks to its 64.3 percent first-half shooting combined with the Wolverine's 34.5 percent.

Poor free-throw shooting by Michigan also contributed to Wisconsin's 47-25 halftime lead, as the Wolverines went 5-15 from the line.

"Personally, I just don't think we can match up with them," Michigan coach Trish Roberts said.

Wisconsin junior guard Keisha Anderson jump-started the Badgers with her scrappy play, including 14 points, a team-high seven assists and two steals.

Junior forward Katie Voight led the Badgers with 25 points, including a school record-tying six 3-pointers.

In the paint, senior center Barb Franke sparked Wisconsin with 22 points.

The Badgers stifled the Wolverines' inside game, holding sophomore center Pollyanna Johns to nine points and 10 rebounds.

There was some debate as to which team was responsible for shutting down the league's top rebounder.

"I thought our guards did a great job of collapsing in on (Johns)," Wisconsin coach Jane Albright-Dieterle said.

Johns had a different take on the subject.

"I started making really stupid fouls and started changing my shots," Johns said. "I think I (shut down) myself."

The game marked the end of senior Jennifer Brzezinski's regular season college career.

Despite a difficult first half (3-10 shooting and 1-6 from the free-throw line), Brzezinski finished strongly to lead the team with 19 points.

"I think it was putting too much pressure on myself, being it was my last game," Brzezinski said. "In the second half I just tried to calm down and concentrate on my game. Things turned around and I started to put the ball in the hole."

Sophomore guard Akisha Franklin, Michigan's only other double-digit scorer, netted 18 points.

Friday night, Iowa sophomore forward Tiffany Gooden helped the Hawkeyes capture their third Big Ten title in five years, at the expense of the visiting Wolverines in front of 7,592 spectators.

Gooden shot 6-of-9 (.666) from 3-point land and dominated the Wolverines with 25 points.

The Hawkeyes shut down Michigan's inside game, holding sophomore center Pollyanna Johns to four points, her season low.

Michigan failed to make up for its lack of points in the paint with its perimeter game. The Wolverines shot a dismal 2-11 (.182) from 3-point land.

Once again, sloppiness hurt the Wolverines as they turned the ball over 22 times, compared to Iowa's 10 turnovers.

Sophomore guard Akisha Franklin played all 40 minutes, and led Michigan with 13 points and seven assists.

Sophomore forward Tiffany Willard went 4-for-5 from the field, to contribute 12 points for the Wolverines.

The Hawkeyes led 40-27 at the half, and kept the Wolverines at bay for the remainder of the game.

Brzezinski's final weekend was an emotional one for her and the team.

"I love every one of (my teammates) and I'd do anything for them," Brzezinski said. "It's just been an honor to play with this bunch of women."

Roberts highlighted Brzezinski's importance to the program.

"I think Breeze has been the foundation the last four years," Roberts said. "Her leadership has been the key thing she's given this team."

Following the postgame press conference, Brzezinski and Johns shared an emotional embrace.

"I'm really gonna miss Breeze," Johns said. "When no one else would talk to me, Breeze would always come to my room and talk to me. She went through the same thing I did with my knee injury. She taught me how to overcome certain things."

Now the Wolverines prepare for next weekend's Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Seedings and times for the tournament will be announced today.