EAST LANSING-This past weekend, Michigan encountered numerous second chances. While they converted Friday night, they came up short Sunday afternoon against a confident Michigan State team.
On Friday night, they completed an astounding comeback against Illinois, one of the Big Ten's elite. But Sunday afternoon, inexperience came into play and Michigan folded under the pressure to rival Michigan State.
The game against Michigan State was one of the most important of the season. The Spartans (8-7 Big Ten,14-11 overall) trailed the Wolverines by one game in the conference standings.
In addition, they were looking for redemption against Michigan, which had beaten the Spartans in overtime three weeks ago.
From the start, the Spartans looked primed for the competition. The Wolverines were able to keep it close throughout the first half, never trailing by more than six points.
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| LOUIS BROWN/Daily The Michigan women's basketball team defeated Illinois in a last-second victory on Friday, but weren't able to complete the weekend sweep, losing to Michigan State 70-56. |
But what really separated the two squads was the Spartans ability to hit their threes. In the first half, Michigan State shot four-of-seven from outside the arc, while Michigan hardly found the rim, shooting one for seven.
Michigan's only positive note of the first half might have been the Wolverines ability to take advantage of Michigan State's poor transition defense.
The Wolverines came out flat in the second half. Michigan State's zone defense stifled Michigan's post players and caused them to turn over the ball and force bad shots. In addition, Stacey Thomas tried to do too much and fired several bricks.
"We came out flat tonight," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "We were playing not to lose tonight, and inexperience played a big role in this loss."
Michigan fell behind nine points early in the second half. But by midway through the half they had closed the lead to a single point.
Michigan again had taken advantage of Michigan State's mistakes. In the game the Wolverines scored 16 points off turnovers and scored an additional 16 second-chance points.
The Wolverines kept it close until the end. With 5:30 left in the second half Ann Lemire hit a three-pointer to cut the Michigan State lead to three. But the Spartans were too sparked and too poised to blow the game at that point.
Michigan State's Becky Cummings, Kristen Rasmussen and Maxann Reese all took charge in their own way to put away the Wolverines.
"Everyone gives Kristen, Max and Pernille a lot of respect on the floor," Michigan State coach Karen Langeland said. "And Becky took advantage of this tonight, and got open to hit a lot of big shots."
Actually, Cummings has taken advantage of the double teaming of her teammates quite often. In the last four games Cummings has averaged 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
With four minutes left, the Wolverines folded. Michigan lost their concentration, and their timing was off. They committed three turnovers in a short span of time, and the lead suddenly ballooned for the Spartans.
"You know who made those turnovers?" Guevara said. "Freshman. I am playing with baby post players. That's what happens in big games when inexperience comes into play."
Michigan came out fired up Friday night, and completed a miraculous comeback against Illinois. Throughout the game, Michigan had trailed.
They were down by 12 points several times. But behind the record-setting performance by Thomas and the winning shot with six seconds left by Anne Thorius, Michigan came away with an impressive victory.
"This was quite a weekend for us," Guevara said. "We are a young team and we hope that the team that came out against Illinois finishes the rest of the season and hopefully makes it into the NCAA's."
02-15-99
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