Women's basketball splits Big Ten games

While most Michigan students were busy celebrating a football national championship over the semester break, it was business as usual for the women's basketball team.

The Wolverines (2-2 Big Ten, 10-4 overall) won four of their six games over the break and opened the Big Ten season with two wins and two losses. If it weren't for a heroic overtime effort by Penn State on Sunday, Michigan could be 3-1 in the conference.

The Nittany Lions came back from 13 points down to force overtime. Pollyanna Johns had one last chance to win the game in regulation for the Wolverines, but she was unable to convert a shot under heavy pressure by the Penn State defenders.

In overtime, Michigan point guard Anne Thorius missed a last-second shot as she was knocked to the floor by several Nittany Lions and Penn State pulled out an 85-84 victory. Johns, as she did in all five of Michigan's games over the break, led the Wolverines in scoring with 18 points.

Against Penn State, Michigan's scoring attack was as balanced as it has been all season. The Wolverines had five players posting double figures, including Thorius (15), Stacey Thomas (14), Tiffany Willard (13) and Molly Murray (12). Murray broke the Michigan record for career 3-pointers in the contest after coming into the game tied with Jennifer Kiefer and Amy Johnson at 102. Murray, a senior co-captain, now has 104 3-pointers.

The loss broke a two-game Big Ten winning streak for the Wolverines. Michigan opened its Big Ten schedule with a 70-66 loss to Ohio State on Dec. 28. It was the eighth straight time that the Wolverines have opened the Big Ten season with a loss. Michigan scored just 20 points in the first half as it shot 26-percent from the field. Mandy Stowe led the team at halftime with four points.

The Wolverines rebounded in the second half, outscoring the Buckeyes, 46-37. Thomas recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and she added six steals. Johns scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half to lead the Wolverines.

Following the loss to Ohio State, Michigan defeated Minnesota on Dec. 30, 94-74, and Northwestern, 77-69, three days later. Against Minnesota, Johns scored 29 points and recorded her 1,000th career point. She is the eleventh Wolverine to reach the milestone. Four other Wolverines recorded double figures, including Willard, Anne Lemire, Thomas and Thorius.

Michigan kicked off its semester break with victories over Princeton and Bowling Green, and entered the Big Ten season with an 8-2 non-conference record.

Next up for the Wolverines is Purdue on Friday. The Boilermakers were picked by many to finish at or near the top of the Big Ten. Michigan will be able to see where it stacks up in the Big Ten in Friday's game and again when it travels to Illinois on Sunday. The Fighting Illini were also picked to finish near the top of the conference.

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