By Richard Shin
EVANSTON - The contrasts could not have been any starker for the Michigan's women's basketball team this weekend.
After handing Penn State its worst Big Ten loss ever Friday, the Wolverines were savaged yesterday by the Wildcats.
Against Northwestern, Michigan (5-9, 13-10) went scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half on its way to a 104-65 loss to the Wildcats.
The loss represented the first time Michigan has allowed an opponent to score 100 points since 1993-94 and by the most points the Wolverines have given up this season.
The loss came after the Wolverines had put a similar pasting on Penn State on Friday. Michigan simply pounded the Nittany Lions, 98-59.
But on the road at Northwestern, Michigan was outhustled, outrebounded, and outshot, losing for the seventh time in nine games.
Michigan coach Sue Guevara was befuddled by her team's inconsistency.
"I wish I understood what happened in the 48 hours between now and when we played Penn State," Guevara said. "(Michigan) was just a totally different team."
The Wildcats hit eight of 19 from behind the 3-point line, and made 92 percent of their free-throw attempts. Michigan shot 43 percent from the field, but only went to the charity stripe 11 times to the Wildcats' 26.
Northwestern forward Kristina Divjak led the Wildcats with a career-high 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting, and three Wildcats scored in double digits.
"(Divjak) was in a zone tonight," Guevara said. "We were in the twilight zone."
Center Pollyanna Johns led Michigan with 20 points, while forward Tiffany Willard added 12. Guards Akisha Franklin and Amy Johnson came off the bench to provide much-needed offense, contributing 12 and seven points, respectively. After scoring 16 against the Nittany Lions, guard Stacey Thomas was held to four points by the Wildcats.
The debacle at Evanston was a vivid counterpoint to Friday's contest, when the Wolverines played nearly flawlessly. Thomas had five of Michigan's 14 steals - increasing her conference-leading total - as the Wolverines forced 19 turnovers.
Michigan led by as many as 41 points in the closing minutes of the second half. The Nittany Lions put on a masonry clinic, bricking their way to a 28.6 shooting percentage in the first half. However, Penn State was down by only 10 at the half, but the Wolverines went on a 24-4 run to open the second frame. With 13 minutes to play, Michigan had the game well in hand, leading 58-28.
Johns scored 11 points during the run to lead Michigan, aided by Penn State's turnovers.
Michigan shot 83 percent from the field in the second half, led by Johns' 20 points.
For the game, the Wolverines shot 60.7 percent from the field, and went to the line 40 times. Michigan out rebounded Penn State, 44-35, and held Lions forward Angie Potthoff to 16 points.
Guevara was extremely pleased with the performance of her team Friday night, especially on defense.
"You saw a Michigan team running on all of its cylinders tonight," Guevara said Friday. "Defensively, I think we caused a lot of havoc."
But yesterday, the tables were turned against Michigan, and it was Northwestern coach Don Perrelli's turn to be pleased.
"Defensively, we did a great job," Perrelli said. "They got some easy shots, but we did a great job defensively."