Women overcome tough half, distractions for win By Michael Kern Daily Sports Writer Michigan women's basketball coach Sue Guevara compared yesterday's 82-78 victory over Iowa at Crisler Arena to the film, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." "The ugly was the first half," Guevara said. "The bad was the distractions we had this week with the injury to Alayne Ingram and the suspension of Ruth Kipping. And the good was the second half." Michigan struggled out of the gates yesterday, turning the ball over 13 times and attempting just 21 shots in the first half. In the final seven minutes of the half, the Wolverines made just one field goal, a LeeAnn Bies tip off of a missed Stacey Thomas jump shot with just one second to go in the half. But the second half was a different story for the Wolverines. Michigan was able to cut its turnovers to just five and took 10 more shots from the field. The Wolverines were also able to cut down on the sloppy play around the basket that left them five points behind at the break. Michigan was uncharacteristically outrebounded by Iowa, giving up 11 first half offensive boards to the smaller Hawkeyes. In the second half, the Wolverines utilized their size and athleticism, driving the ball to the basket and drawing fouls. Thomas and Bies both set or tied career marks in free throws made by sinking 12 each from the charity stripe. Bies' performance was especially key for the Wolverines with sophomore forward Ruth Kipping out due to suspension. The freshman stepped up off the bench to play the extra minutes, doubling her average by scoring 18 points. Bies also contributed 10 rebounds and two blocks. "All of my big games have been off the bench," Bies said. "I like to sit and see what's going on out there first to get a feel for the game. Then I can go in there and contribute." The key to the turnaround may have been some choice words from Guevara in the lockerroom at halftime. "She definitely got us motivated," Thomas said. "She was hooting and hollering and stomping her feet. She wanted us to be mad at her and take it out on Iowa." Thomas stood out as the player of the game for the Wolverines, scoring a career high 32 points to go with eight rebounds and three steals. In one four-minute stretch halfway through the second half, Thomas took over the game, scoring 11 of the Wolverines' 13 points. The offensive spurt was a key in the victory for Michigan, especially with Ingram, the Wolverines' second leading scorer, out for the game with a sprained ankle. "I knew that somebody was going to have to pick up the slack whether it be the post players, the bench, or me," Thomas said. "I took the steps necessary to go ahead and do it, and the shots just fell." On the back of Thomas, the Wolverines built their lead to eight with just over seven minutes to play. But the Hawkeyes mounted a comeback, cutting the lead back to two with 4:26 to play. With 2:18 to go, Iowa forward Randi Peterson stepped to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game. That was as close as the Hawkeyes would get. Peterson missed them both and the Wolverines cruised from there to victory. "We had some mental lapses," Iowa coach Angie Lee said. "We said some things during timeouts that didn't transfer. We had a couple of missed free throws with a chance to tie it. It's the little things like that that keep us from looking at the bright side of things." DAVID KATZ/Daily Anne Thorius and the Wolverines held off a late Iowa run, defeating the Hawkeyes, 82-78. "I knew that somebody was going to have to pick up the slack whether it be the post players, the bench, or me," Thomas said. "I took the steps necessary to go ahead and do it, and the shots just fell." On the back of Thomas, the Wolverines built their lead to eight with just over seven minutes to play. But the Hawkeyes mounted a comeback, cutting the lead back to two with 4:26 to play. With 2:18 to go, Iowa forward Randi Peterson stepped to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game. That was as close as the Hawkeyes would get. Peterson missed them both and the Wolverines cruised from there to victory. "We had some mental lapses," Iowa coach Angie Lee said. "We said some things during timeouts that didn't transfer. We had a couple of missed free throws with a chance to tie it. It's the little things like that that keep us from looking at the bright side of things." Originally on page 1B in the 1-24-2000 issue of the Daily.