'M' women hoops cruises past Slovakia in exhibition, 95-67

In a ceremony preceding Saturday's exhibition game with Sporitelna Bratislava, the Michigan women's basketball team exchanged gifts with its European opponent.

That was about all the Wolverines did to strengthen foreign relations.

In its only exhibition game of the season, Michigan pounded Sporitelna, 95-67, in a game that served as a tune-up for the regular-season opener against St. John's on Friday.

Behind a well-balanced offensive attack that boasted four players in double figures, the Wolverines dominated the slower and smaller Slovakians, especially under the basket.

"I was definitely pleased with the way we rebounded the ball," said Michigan coach Sue Guevara, whose team yanked down 23 offensive rebounds. "One of the things we wanted to do is make sure we went to the boards."

FILE PHOTO Michigan cagers Stacey Thomas and Pollyanna Johns led the Wolverines past Sporitelna Bratislava in their lone exhibition game. The Wolverines won, 95-67.

Leading the charge was freshman forward Mandy Stowe, who had four offensive rebounds to complement an impressive 17-point outing. Center Pollyanna Johns also scored 19 points while grabbing seven total rebounds.

From the tipoff, it was obvious that Michigan's speed and quickness were too much for the overmatched Slovakians. Coming out in a full-court press, the Wolverines' aggressive defense harassed the Slovakians into six turnovers in the first five minutes. Michigan capitalized, jumping out to a 16-6 lead. Guard Stacey Thomas had three steals in the first half and scored 18 points on the day, many off layups resulting from Sporitelna turnovers.

"That's something you're going to see from us all year," Guevara said, referring to Michigan's defensive intensity. "I think we have the kind of athletes that can press, and that the kids are smart enough and talented enough to do that."

Sporitelna, winners of the 1994-95 Slovakian Cup, is in the middle of a stretch of 10 games against various midwestern opponents.

In preparation for St. John's and Felpausch Tournament in East Lansing, the Wolverines used Saturday's game to measure their progress.

"We're a faster team this year," said Johns, last year's leading scorer on a team that finished 7-9 in the Big Ten and 15-11 overall. "We have a lot more people that are not only shooters, but who can score."

Guevara, whose team reeled off five straight wins to begin last season, is even more optimistic this year.

"This team is way ahead of where we were last year, I'll tell you that much," Guevara said.

The second-year coach was particularly pleased with the team's depth. More than one third of the team's total points came from reserves. In all, four players scored in double figures.

"I'm really pleased with the scoring, because (other teams are) not just going to be able to double in on (Johns) or key on (Thomas)," Guevara said.

Guevara was also impressed with her team's ability to compete with the older Slovakians, whose five starters were all more than 22 years of age.

"Today we played against an older, experienced team that has been playing a lot," Guevara said. "You can see that they play well together, and I'm very pleased with the way we played against them.

"It gives me a barometer of where we are and where we need to go."

11-17-97