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Michigan women's basketball grabs its first Big Ten victory in weekend split

BLOOMINGTON -- After winning its first Big Ten game of the season, 64-52, against Minnesota Friday, the Michigan women's basketball team could not make it two in a row.

Despite an inspired second-half comeback, the Wolverines could not overcome their 25 percent first-half shooting, losing 74-67 at Indiana yesterday.

The Wolverines (1-8 Big Ten, 7-12 overall), who trailed 41-27 at the half and by as many as 20 in the second half, cut the Hoosier lead to 67-63 with three minutes remaining in the game.

But it was too little, too late for the Wolverines as Indiana (3-6, 12-7) held Michigan scoreless for the next 2:16 and increased the lead to eight.

Michigan's attempted comeback was highlighted by 58.6 percent second-half shooting.

"I think I can sum this game up in a few words," Michigan coach Trish Roberts said. "That is a poor percentage shooting in the first half as compared to the second half."

Michigan's defense also improved in the second half.

After playing man-to-man for much of the first half, the Wolverines played the entire second half in a 2-3 zone defense, making it difficult for the Hoosiers to penetrate.

"They did a good job of going into the zone," Indiana coach Jim Izard said. "It normally wouldn't bother us but we didn't shoot the ball particularly well in the second half."

Indiana dominated Michigan for much of the first half. But the Wolverines made a surprising mid-half comeback with sophomore center Pollyanna Johns on the bench with two fouls.

Down by 18 with eight minutes left in the first half, sophomore forward Tiffany Willard scored six points in less than two minutes for the Wolverines to help cut the Hoosier lead to eight.

It was all for naught, though, as Indiana opened the lead back up to 14 by halftime.

Johns led the Wolverines with 18 points and six rebounds, down from her conference leading average of 10.5 rebounds per game.

Sophomore guard Akisha Franklin sparked Michigan with 10 points and freshman center Anne Poglits played 14 minutes, equaling her highest minute total.

For Indiana, senior forward Lisa Furlin nailed 13 of 15 from the free-throw line en route to her game-high 19 points.

Hoosiers' senior center Jenny Dittfach scored 15 and junior guard Tatjana Vesel contributed 14 points.

The Wolverines fared better in their first game of the weekend set.

In Friday's game against Minnesota, the Wolverines cut down on their turnovers, picked up their defensive intensity in the second half and had a great effort from their bench.

For the first time in a while, Pollyana Johns did not lead the Wolverines. The sophomore center was averaging 22 points and 11.2 rebounds in her last five games.

But the Wolverines needed to find someone else to get their points from with Johns tallying only five points on two of 10 shooting.

"I think that's something the team really needed," Roberts said. "The last few games we were depending on Pollyanna: her points and rebounds. We've been emphasizing all week long that the other kids had to step up their game."

And that's what Franklin, Silver Shellman and Catherine DiGiacinto did. Off the bench, the trio carried the Wolverines to victory.

Shellman and DiGiacinto led the Wolverines with 20 and 13 points, respectively. Franklin contributed 10 points and 3 steals.

Three Gophers were in double figures. Nancy Shudlick led Minnesota with 12 points. Sarah Schieber and Sarah Cecka had 10 points a piece.

DiGiacinto, Shellman and Franklin keyed a 16-2 run in the beginning of the second half that extended Michigan's lead to 14. The Wolverines never looked back.

Shellman knew she had to contribute in some way, coming off a knee injury that sidelined her for the last two games.