If you build it, they will come.
They are building a women's basketball team at Crisler Arena, and a season-high 2,903 fans came out yesterday to watch the Michigan women's basketball team defeat Illinois, 93-87, knocking the Illini out of the top spot in the Big Ten standings.
Michigan (3-2 Big Ten, 11-3 overall) held a six-point cushion for most of the second half and led by as many as nine points with three minutes remaining. But Illinois (4-2, 12-4) made a late run and cut Michigan's lead to one on a jumper by Ann Henderson with 28.4 seconds left.
Michigan's senior point guard Jennifer Kiefer received the inbound pass and was immediately fouled. She sank both ends of the one-and-one, extending Michigan's lead to three, and bringing the crowd to its feet.
Illinois' Tauja Catchings drove quickly upcourt but missed a two-point attempt. Michigan junior center Pollyanna Johns got the last of her game-high 15 rebounds, and Catchings was called for intentionally fouling Ann Lemire.
Lemire made both free throws, two of her career-best 26 points, and Illinois' comeback was effectively over.
"We had some big-time performances out of some players," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "Friday it was a total team effort in the loss (66-44, to Purdue) and today it was a total team effort in the win.
"Our performance improved 1,000 percent between Sunday afternoon and Friday evening."
Lemire was the Wolverines' top performer. Her 26 points came on 10-for-13 shooting, including 2-for-2 from behind the arc. She also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists. Most of her points came off the dribble, on pull-up jumpers from 10 feet or drives to the baseline.
"If I feel I'm on, I will probably look to create more, and penetrate," Lemire said.
Although Michigan led by as many as 11 in the first half, it looked as though the Illini might take the lead into the lockerroom at the half. But a 3-pointer from Lemire and two free throws from Catherine DiGiacinto gave the Wolverines a 42-40 lead at the break.
Michigan opened the second half with an 8-0 run to extend their advantage to 10. Illinois did manage to take hold of the lead briefly at the 13:00 mark. But Michigan quickly recovered and went ahead for good, 67-65, on a bucket by Stacey Thomas at 10:14, and the Wolverines eventually pushed their lead back to nine.
The Illini were able to make the game close with the help of three Michigan turnovers in the final two minutes.
The Wolverines finished with 20 turnovers, but this was offset by their 56-31 rebounding advantage. Michigan had 20 offensive rebounds, most of which resulted in second-chance points.
"I was extremely pleased with our efforts on the boards," Guevara said. "Rebounding is effort and position, and tonight we had both."
DiGiacinto had eight boards to go with her 12 points in a solid performance off the bench. Johns had 16 points for her ninth double-double of the season, and Tiffany Willard tossed in 14.
Thomas contributed 15 points, while also holding Illinois' Ashley Berggren, who averages 19 points per game, to a quiet 13. Alicia Sheeler had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Illini.
Friday, Michigan lost to Purdue, 66-44, in West Lafayette. The Wolverines trailed 29-24 at the half, but shot only 23 percent from the field in the second half.
The only Wolverines to score in double-digits were Johns and Lemire, who finished with 13 and 10 points respectively.
The Michigan women's basketball team had an up-and-down weekend, losing at Purdue Friday before bouncing back to beat Illinois, 93-87, yesterday at Crisler Arena.
MARGARET MYERS/Daily