Skrba to play professionally in Europe

From mgoblue.com:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Former University of Michigan women's basketball player Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Canada/Langstaff Secondary School) recently inked a professional contract with Asptt Charleville-Mezieres of the French Professional League. Skrba completed her collegiate career this spring and will join the team for training camp in August.

"I am so excited to begin my professional career in Charleville-Mezieres, France," said Skrba. "Not only is it a great opportunity from a basketball perspective, but it will also provide me with an opportunity to utilize the French language skills I acquired at the University of Michigan. I am very grateful to the University of Michigan and all those that support me."

"Stephany fits the profile of your typical overseas player," said head coach Kevin Borseth. "She is tall and long, in addition to running the floor well and blocking shots. She is very versatile. It is certainly a great opportunity for her to extend her basketball career and we are very excited for her."

Michigan to play Virginia Tech in the Big 10/ACC Challenge

From mgoblue.com:

The Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences announced Tuesday (May 5) the matchups for the 2009 Big Ten/ACC Challenge and the University of Michigan women's basketball team will travel to Virginia Tech on Thursday, Dec. 3, for a game at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.

The third annual challenge will feature all teams from both conferences with the exception of Miami (Fla.). Game times and networks have yet to be determined and will be released at a later date.

The 2009 Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be played Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 2-3. The Challenge kicks off with a three-game slate on Wednesday, featuring Georgia Tech at Penn State, Illinois at Wake Forest and Boston College at Iowa. The Challenge will conclude on Thursday with eight games on tap. Thursday's matchups include Michigan at Virginia Tech, Clemson at Northwestern, Minnesota at Maryland, North Carolina at Michigan State, Ohio State at Duke, Purdue at Virginia, Florida State at Indiana and Wisconsin at North Carolina State.

It will be the second meeting between Michigan and Virginia Tech. The Wolverines defeated the Hokies, 79-63, at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the 1996-97 season.

Michigan State gets a trio of verbals

Per michladyballers.com, Annalise Pickrel (Grand Rapids Central Catholic), Klarissa Bell (East Lansing) and Madison Williams (Detroit Country Day) have all made verbal commitments to Michigan State. Madison Williams is rated by many as the top player in Michigan for 2010.

Kay Phi Yow

Mechelle Voepel has an excellent article about Kay Yow, her players and how some are paying tribute to her:

You’ve heard/read a lot of Kay Yow stories in the last few months after her death. But as you read this one, keep in mind Gardner’s situation. Many coaches maintain good or at least decent relationships with players who excelled for them for four seasons. However, Yow cared for and remembered everyone who ever went through her program.

“Think of it, 34 years _ that’s a long span of time and a lot of young women whom she impacted,” Gardner said. “She was a mother to all of us, even those of us who had mothers and had good relationships with them. We still felt like we were Coach Yow’s kids, too.”

2009 Awards Banquet

From mgoblue.com:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball program celebrated the 2008-09 season at its annual postseason banquet on Thursday evening (April 2) in the Junge Family Champions Center. The Wolverines honored the accomplishments of its four seniors: Carly Benson (Carney, Mich. /Carney-Nadeau), Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill/Carl Sandburg) and Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School). Meanwhile, seven team members took home individual honors.

Jessica Minnfield was named most valuable, Melinda Queen best defensive player, Courtney Boylan received the coaches award and Carmen Reynolds most improved.

In addition Krista Phillips was top rebounder and Veronica Hicks got the "Hustle" Award as well as the academic excellence award and

Michigan Women's Basketball on Twitter

It looks like the team has an "official" twitter feed. One of the most recent posts is a link to this photo of Krista Phillips, Ashley Jones and Jamillya Hardley reading to a class at Mitchell Elementary School.

Jenny Ryan named Miss Basketball

From the Detroit Free Press:

“It’s surreal,’’ said Ryan, a 5-feet-9 guard who has signed to play at Michigan. “It still hasn’t hit, I can’t even believe it. The other five girls are all so talented with amazing stats and to be considered is one thing, but to actually walk away with it is all together unbelievable.’’

Ryan has had an unbelievable career, totaling 1,405 points, 443 steals, 368 assists and 344 rebounds while leading Nouvel to Class C state championships as a sophomore and junior.

This season Ryan averaged 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 5.5 steals. She is also No. 2 in her class with a 4.3 grade point average.

Fellow Michigan recruits Rachel Sheffer of Watervliet finished 3rd and Nya Jordan of Detroit Community finished 6th.

Ryan is the third Miss Basketball to commit to Michigan, joining Tabitha Pool (200) and Krista Clement (2003).