'M' basketball wins Cancun tournament

Instead of turkey and stuffing, the Michigan women's basketball team likely enjoyed Mexican cuisine for its Thanksgiving feast.

The Wolverines joined the football team and men's basketball team in heading to a warmer climate over Thanksgiving break. They headed to Cancun on Wednesday to compete in the four-team Torneo Cancun de Basquetbol.

They enjoyed not only the sun and beaches, but victory as well. In the final game, Michigan defeated Alabama-Birmingham 73-55 to capture the tournament championship.

The game remained close in the first half, with three lead changes.

But they were able to pull ahead at the end of the half, leading by seven, 36-29. And the second half was entirely dominated by the Wolverines. The Blazers brought it within four at the 7:51 mark, but that is the closest they would come.

Stacey Thomas led the team with 17 points in the final game. This, in addition to her 16 points and 11 rebounds in Friday's game over Coppin State, earned her the tournament MVP honors.

The game against the Eagles was again dominated by Michigan, who earned the 104-49 victory.

Michigan jumped out to an early lead, and led 53-30 at halftime. The Wolverines shot an impressive 56.4 percent from the field in this first half, and started the second half off just as impressively. They began the half with a 12-0 run which put the game virtually out of reach of the Eagles.

Five players scored in double digits for Michigan, with freshman Raina Goodlow leading all scorers. Goodlow scored a career-high 18 points in only 18 minutes of action.

Heather Oesterle and Mandy Stowe also contributed 12 points each, and Ruth Kipping rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. Kipping also had 10 rebounds, and recorded her first career double-double.

This was Michigan's first 100-point game in just under a year, and ranks third in most points scored in the program's history.

Recruiting beat: The Wolverines have already received two letters of intent for the early signing period of the 1999-2000 season.

LeeAnn Bies, a 6-3 center from Lakeview, and Infini Robinson, a 5-9 guard from Detroit, will be welcomed additions to the already young Michigan squad.

Bies attended Lakeview High School, where she led her basketball team a 26-1 record and a Class B state quarterfinal appearance.

"The best thing about LeeAnn is that she's a blue-collar worker," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said in a Nov. 23 press release. "She's a post player who works, works, works, even when she doesn't have the ball. At 6-3, 180, she gives us the size we need and she's not afraid of contact. With her, Ruth (Kipping) and Raina (Goodlow), that's a good front line."

And with play like the Wolverines saw out of Kipping and Goodlow this weekend, there will be a lot expected out of Bies.

Robinson was named a USA Today, Street & Smith's and WBCA All-American. She has recorded 24 triple-doubles and 10 quadruple-doubles in her career.

"Infini is a perimeter player who can shoot the three from NBA range," Guevara said in the release. "She's quick and she's got decent size for a guard. We're fortunate to have her on our team. She reminds me of Alayne Ingram."

11-30-98