2009 Recruits

Today's Detroit Free Press has profiles of the six finalists for 2009 Miss Basketball in Michigan. Three of them (Nya Jordan, Jenny Ryan and Rachel Sheffer) are Michigan recruits:

Nya Jordan, 6-1 Forward, Detroit Community

College: Michigan.

Biggest area of improvement: Shooting.

Best move: Attacking the basket with a crossover dribble for a lay-up.

Favorite athlete: LeBron James.

Favorite class: Art.

Favorite book: "Ordinary People" by Judith Guest.

Top Opponent: Erica Solomon, Country Day, Notre Dame.

When my career is finished I will: "Try to open up an advertising business."

Overview: She was a solid inside player on last season's Class B runner-up. But over the spring and summer her perimeter skills blossomed and she became a national recruit. She still spends a lot of time playing inside because that is where her team needs her and she is a handful in the paint.

Jenny Ryan, 5-9 Guard, Saginaw Nouvel

College: Michigan.

Biggest area of improvement: Jump shot.

Best move: In transition, pulls up for a jump shot or uses a crossover and drives to the basket.

Favorite athlete: Cal Ripken Jr.

Favorite class: Yearbook.

Favorite book: "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.

Top Opponent: Kellie Watson, Ionia and Notre Dame.

When my career is finished I will: "Coach basketball at the college level."

Overview: She is the ultimate team leader. She has led Nouvel to a pair of Class C state championships and is gunning for No. 3. She is a demon on defense and, between deflections and steals, she gets her hands on 12 balls a game. She has become a better perimeter shooter.

Rachel Sheffer, 6-1 Center, Watervliet

College: Michigan.

Biggest area of improvement: Ballhandling.

Best move: Takes the ball from the left wing, uses a dribble hop-step for a lay-up.

Favorite athlete: Candace Parker.

Favorite class: Media.

Favorite book: "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton.

Top Opponent: Kellie Watson, Ionia and Notre Dame.

When my career is finished I will: "Become a first-grade teacher."

Overview: One of the state's best all-around athletes, she earned all-state honors in basketball, volleyball and softball. She has to play inside because of her size, but she has perimeter skills and can fill a lane on the fast break.

Purdue 70 Michigan 53

Despite a double-double from Krista Phillips (10 pts/10 rebounds), Michigan dropped another game. Michigan was outshot (44% to 36%), outrebounded (41-25) and committed more turnovers (18-14) - pretty much sealing the game.

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team had three players in double figures, led by 13 points from seniors Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) and Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg) in a 70-53 loss at Purdue on Thursday night (Feb. 26) in Mackey Arena. Junior center Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate) posted U-M's first double-double of the season with 10 points and a season-high 11 rebounds to lead the Wolverines on the glass.

The Boilermakers opened up a decisive 34-21 first-half lead, led by the play of senior Danielle Campbell, who was 5-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe in the first frame. Campbell ended the game with a game-high 18 points.

Purdue used a 25-7 run, which spanned over seven minutes and two halves, to jump out to a 50-28 lead -- its largest of the game -- at the 12:57 mark of the second half and never looked back, maintaining a double-figure lead for the remainder of the contest. U-M used a 13-4 run over the final five minutes of action but could not slow Purdue, which picked up its fifth consecutive victory.

This year versus last year

I've been puzzled by the team this year - my impression has been that the defense has been (generally) solid, but they have struggled to score. Last year the team gave up 57.3 points per game, this year 57.9. While worse, it isn't a big difference. Offense is a different story - last year 59.5 points per game, this year 55.5.

Why the difference? Losing Cooper, Clement & Jones doesn't help matters, but Reynolds & Boylan have contributed this season. Comparing the team to the last two seasons:

	Overall FG %			Three Point%
	2008-9	2007-8	2006-7	2008-9	2007-8	2006-7
Jessica Minnfield	.338	.421	.291	.284	.406	.237
Carly Benson	.353	.405	.393	.318	.313	.353
Veronica Hicks	.383	.355		.300	.250
Stephany Skrba	.482	.535	.354	.000	.167	.000
Melinda Queen	.355	.311	.458	.355	.105	.368
Krista Phillips	.386	.468	.465	.174	.264	.400
Kalyn McPherson	.267	.313	.268	.000	1.000	.333
Carmen Reynods	.430			.388
Courtney Boylan	.344			.321
Ashley Jones		.450	.273		.346	.000
Janelle Cooper		.389	.338		.352	.270
Krista Clement		.358	.273		.336	.269
Ta'Shia Walker		.395	.458		.200	.233
Team	.377	.419	.367	.297	.330	.274

The teams overall shooting percentage climbed dramatically last year, and has fallen this year to levels close to the 2006-7 season. The only players to improve their numbers from last year are Veronica Hicks and Melinda Queen (and Benson's 3point % has gone up a bit as well).



Was last year a fluke? Is it simply a matter of confidence? I wish I knew - but with a young team next year (3 seniors, 1 junior), let's hope it starts to turn around.

Iowa 68 Michigan 64

Yet another frustrating loss. Michigan trailed the entire game, but kept fighting back. It seemed like every time they were making a run Iowa would get a defensive stop and score (usually a three pointer). Michigan actually outshot Iowa (40.0% vs. 38.2%), but were outrebounded badly (50-32) which led to 8 more Iowa shots - enough to make the difference. Carly Benson led the way with 17 points and Veronica Hicks added 16 for the Wolverines.

Next: Iowa

Michigan hosts Iowa (17-9, 10-5) today at Crisler arena for their last home game of the season. Iowa is led by senior guard Kristi Smith (13.4ppg), senior center Megan Skouby (12.6ppg), senior forward Wendy Ausdemore (11.8ppg) and sophomore guard Kachine Alexander (9.2ppg/8.6rpg).

It is Senior Day and the team will be honoring Jess Minnfield, Carly Benson, Stephany Skrba and Melinda Queen. (Nothing official, but I assume Ashley Jones will be back next season).

Big Ten Network Highlights of MSU Loss

27 Points?

I wasn't able to attend (or even watch or listen to) last night's game. Holding Michigan State to 52 points might have been enough under some circumstances to win the game, but 27 points often isn't enough to win a football game, never mind basketball.

I'm hoping that somehow this is a hangover from the tough Minnesota loss, but with only three games left plus the Big 10 tournament, there isn't much season left to turn around.

Next: Michigan State

Michigan travels to East Lansing tonight in a rematch from January 15th. Michigan is struggling, but they do have the tools to pull off the upset - Krista Phillips has, at times, been able to keep Allyssa DeHaan and they usually play solid defense. It will come down the usual suspects - can they keep turnovers down, hit enough 3 pointers and find some balanced scoring.

Big Ten Network video of Minnesota game

More on the Minnesota game

I've been slow to write more about the Minnesota game, partly because every time I think about the game I get depressed all over again. In many ways, that game seemed a microcosm of this season - Michigan dominated in stretches, but couldn't put the game away. Not to take anything away from Minnesota, but the Wolverines had executed better (fewer turnovers, better free throw shooting), they would have won the game.

Michigan has a couple impressive victories this season, but can't seem to sustain good play, either over the course of a single game or for multiple games in a row.

From mgoblue.com:

Brittany McCoy banked in a last-second three-pointer to help Minnesota steal a 60-59 victory from the University of Michigan women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 15) in Crisler Arena.

The Wolverines held a 59-57 lead after senior guard Jessica Minnfield's (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) free throw with 15 seconds remaining before McCoy hit the game-winner. Freshman guard Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) led Michigan with 14 points off the bench, while Minnfield finished with 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds.

Minnesota 60 Michigan 59

Minnesota knocked down a 3 point shot with 1.9 second left to win the game. A very frustrating loss - at times Michigan looked solid and in control, then would be overcome with bouts of sloppy play. More later, but two stats: Michigan had 22 turnovers (to 13 for Minnesota) and only shot 64.7% from the free throw line (11-17) - not horrible, but not great.

Next: Penn State

Penn State (8-13, 3-9) visits Crisler tonight at 7:30. This is pretty much a must win for Michigan - a game against another second division team at home. The Lady Lions are led by Tyra Grant (20.0 ppg) and Brianne O'Rourke (11.5 ppg).

Penn State won the first meeting of the season at State College, 76-58. Let's hope Michigan can return the favor tonight.

Northwestern 60 Michigan 57

A disappointing loss - after falling behind early (by as many as 17), Michigan came back and even took a small lead for a while, but was unable to close the game out. They missed a last second chance to send it to overtime.

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team came back from a 17-point first-half deficit and had a chance to send the game into overtime down by three as the final second ticked away but could not find the bottom of the net on its final shot and fell to Northwestern, 60-57, on Thursday night (Feb. 5) in Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Wolverines had two players in double figures, led by 12 points from senior Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic). Senior Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) was also in double digits with 10 points, while junior Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate) tallied a game-high nine rebounds.

Next: Northwestern

Michigan travels to Evanston tonight to play Northwestern (8:00pm Eastern time). The Wildcats are at the bottom of the Big 10 standings so this is a good opportunity for Michigan to grab a road win.

Northwestern hasn't had a lot of success this year (5-17, 1-10), they are led by one of the better players in the conference, center Amy Jaeschke who averages 15 points and 8 rebounds a game. Michigan's post players will have their hands full this evening.

More on the Wisconsin win

Michigan looked really good on Sunday - the defense was solid, players were taking (and making) good shots and the offense was balanced (5 players in double figures). How much of that was Michigan, and how much was Wisconsin struggling remains to be seen. Let's hope it is the start of a turnaround for the Wolverines.

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team used a quick start and red-hot shooting to cruise past Wisconsin, 70-42, on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 1) at Crisler Arena. The Maize and Blue ended a six-game losing streak with a season-best 57.1 percent (24-of-42) from the field while holding the Badgers to 28.8 percent (17-of-59).

Mlive.com:

Making shots at a season-best rate in front of its largest home crowd of the year, the University of Michigan women's basketball team put an end to a six-game losing streak.

The Wolverines scored the first nine points of the game Sunday on their way to a 70-42 victory over Wisconsin in front of 3,688 at Crisler Arena.

With five players in double figures, Michigan (10-12, 3-8 Big Ten) snapped the longest skid in second-year coach Kevin Borseth's tenure with the Wolverines. They hadn't won since Jan. 8 against Illinois.

"Finally,'' Borseth said. "It seems like we have been in a good position a lot of times in the past couple games, and we weren't able to do it.

"Today we played really well against a great Wisconsin defense. They are tough to score on, and I thought we did a great job today on both ends of the court.''

and the Pierce County Herald:

The University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team got crushed at Michigan Sunday 70-42.

It was the Badgers’ fourth straight loss and Badger Head Coach Lisa Stone sent her entire starting lineup to the bench after five minutes, when the Badgers were down 9-0.

The Wolverines went on a 15-0 run later in the half and rolled from there. Michigan shot 57-percent, as led by as much as 32 late in the game.

Wisconsin shot just 29-percent and its 28-point losing margin was the most since falling to Illinois by 30 just over three years ago.

Michigan 70 Wisconsin 42

Michigan got off to a quick 9-0 lead and never trailed. They had a very balanced offense today with five players in double figures (Hicks had 15, Skrba, Queen & Minnfield added 11 and Reynolds had 10).

Pack the House against Wisconsin

Michigan is trying to break the Women's Basketball attendance record (set last year against Michigan State) today when they host Wisconsin at 2:00pm. Come out and support the Wolverines and maybe take part in setting a record.

Ohio State 52 Michigan 44

It was a close game most of the way, but like several other games this season the Wolverines couldn't quite get the job done down the stretch. Courtney Boylan and Melinda Queen led the team with 10 points each, but it wasn't enough for Michigan to pull another upset. 2-20 shooting from 3 point range didn't help matters, nor did Ohio State getting 20 free throw attempts in the second half, compared to none for the Wolverines.

From mgoblue.com:

The University of Michigan women's basketball team battled Ohio State (No. 15 AP, No. 14 ESPN/USA Today) down to the wire but came up short, falling to the Buckeyes, 52-44, on Thursday night (Jan. 29) at Crisler Arena. Ohio State outscored the Wolverines 18-7 down the stretch in the second half.

U-M was led by 10 points from both senior forward Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg) and freshman guard Courtney Boylan (Chaska, Minn./Chaska).

Trailing by five points early, the Wolverines went on a 10-2 run to take a three-point lead, 18-15, with 9:23 to play in the first half. Sophomore guard Veronica Hicks (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) ignited the burst for the Maize and Blue with an offensive rebound and put back, while senior forward Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) added four points during the stretch with a basket and a pair of free throws, and Michigan took a 23-22 lead into the intermission. The Wolverines were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line in the opening 20 minutes and held Ohio State to just a single free throw. U-M was paced by Queen with six points at the break; Jantel Lavender led all scorers with nine points for the Buckeyes.

More changes?

It appears that LeQuisha Whitfield has left the team, though I've seen no official word. I am assuming that Ashley Jones will redshirt, though again I've seen nothing to confirm it.

Even in Jones does return next year, Michigan will be a young team - 3 seniors (Phillips, McPhereson, Jones), 1 junior (Hicks), 5 sophomores (Reynolds, Boylan, Smith, Hardley, & Young) and 6 freshman (Arnold, Thompson, Hollins, Jordan, Sheffer & Ryan). They would also have four scholarships for the 2010 class available.