Michigan State loses in WNIT final 81-66

Marquette won the WNIT yesterday, defeating Michigan State in East Lansing:

After Marquette took a 29-9 lead, the Spartans made their best run late in the first half and cut the deficit to 11 at 41-30 with 10 straight points.

Monfre’s third wide-open 3 gave the Golden Eagles a 45-33 halftime lead, thanks to 54.5-percent accuracy from the field.

Michigan State never got closer than 10 points again, as Marquette rebuilt its cushion with an 8-0 lead just after the intermission and coasted home with reserves.

The Golden Eagles, who lost five of their last eight games before the WNIT, had 22 assists on 27 baskets and a 42-37 rebounding edge.

The Spartans shot 34.9 percent from the field and just 21.7 percent beyond the arc, a problem all season for a team that never played a WNIT road game.

Congratulations nonetheless to the Spartans, one of the few post season bright spots for the Big 10 this year.

More on the MSU loss

From the Michigan Daily:

The rims at the Breslin Center are regulation-sized - two basketballs wide and 10 feet above the floor.

But for the Michigan women's basketball team Sunday, the rims couldn't have seemed much bigger than Fisher-Price miniature hoops.

Michigan's 45-40 loss to Michigan State (10-8 Big Ten, 22-13 overall) in the Elite Eight of the Women's National Invitation Tournament wasn't pretty.

The Wolverines (9-9, 19-14) shot just 4-for-33 from 3-point range, their worst shooting percentage from deep all season.

"We didn't have good shots," Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said. "Did we even get any shots off? We're shooting the ball from, goodness, 24 feet from the basket just for the sake of shooting it, as opposed to getting some type of penetration and get a kickout."

also an article in the Grand Rapids Press/Mlive.com.

Coverage of MSU loss

The Michigan Daily:

As you might have seen after the Michigan women's basketball team blew a 20-point second-half lead to Wisconsin about a month ago, Michigan coach Kevin Borseth usually has something to say in postgame press conferences.

But yesterday's 45-40 loss to Michigan State (10-8 Big Ten, 22-13) in the quarterfinals of the Women's National Invitation Tournament took the punch out of Borseth.

"I don't really know what to say, so," Borseth said, trailing off. "I'll let you guys ask questions."

The Wolverines went scoreless for 10:51 through the end of regulation and most of overtime.

"It wasn't what they did, it's what we did to ourselves," Borseth said. "They say, 'You don't mind getting beat but you hate losing.' That's how I feel right now."

With six minutes left in the game, Michigan led 37-30. But the Spartans outscored the Wolverines 15-3 in the final eleven minutes, including overtime, to secure a victory.

For the game, Michigan shot just 13-for-61, including 4-for-33 on 3-pointers. It was the Wolverines' worst shooting performance of the season.

The Ann Arbor News/Mlive.com:

"Not to take anything away from them, but this is two times now that we've been here, and we let one slip away," he said.

Michigan's season, which some might call a resounding success considering the Wolverines' four-year record of 35-83 under Cheryl Burnett, ended at 19-14.

Junior guard Jessica Minnfield, who led the Wolverines with 12 points despite 2-of-13 shooting, summed up the turnaround by saying, "we're not losing (to MSU) by 10, 20 points anymore. Now we're losing by 3, 4, 5 points."

Added Borseth: "I really thought we were playing our best basketball at the end of the year. ... So it was, all in all, a pretty good year. We're a formidable team."
First-year Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant agreed. She said the Wolverines have enough talent "to beat anybody" and that she expects "a lot more battles in the future."

The only Big Ten teams alive in postseason action went toe-to-toe for the third time this season in a game that both coaches described as ugly.

Michigan State shot 29.2 percent, there were 37 combined turnovers and several airballs throughout the game by both teams.

The Detroit Free Press:

The last time the Michigan and Michigan State women's basketball teams met at the Breslin Center, U-M squandered an eight-point lead in the final seven minutes and lost by three.

The stage was bigger this time, as the teams faced off in a Women's National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal Sunday afternoon, but the result was almost the same.

The Wolverines built a 10-point lead in the second half, then went scoreless from the field for the final 6:26 of regulation and all of overtime. Meanwhile, the Spartans rallied to tie and scored eight points in overtime for a 45-40 victory.

Also, the Michigan Daily live blogged the game and coverage from mgoblue.com.

MSU 45 Michigan 40 (OT)

I'm not sure if it was a defensive battle, poor shooting by everyone or a combination of both. Michigan had their chances, but was unable to pull out a win. Jessica Minnfield (12 points) and Ashley Jones (11 points) led Michigan, but the Wolverines were ice cold from 3 point range (4-33).

MSU had similar struggles (2-20 from 3 point range), but was able to score enough in overtime to get the win.

Ann Arbor News Preview

On mlive.com:

Janelle Cooper smiled at the question, but then worded her response carefully.

After the University of Michigan women's basketball team advanced to the Women's National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals Thursday night, the senior guard was asked what getting another chance against rival Michigan State meant to her.

Cooper paused, grinned and then spoke.

"You know, it feels good every time we get another shot (to play),'' Cooper said. "So we'll see what happens on Sunday.''

Theteams meet at 2 p.m. today at the Breslin Center with a berth in the WNIT semifinals on the line.

For three years, Cooper and her fellow Michigan seniors failed to defeat their in-state rivals from East Lansing.

But in a season that has rejuvenated hope in the Michigan women's program, expectations have suddenly been altered.

The Wolverines (19-13) recorded their first victory over the Spartans in nine years in mid-January - a defining triumph in a season that has produced Michigan's first postseason run since 2002.

After Michigan State (21-13) evened the season series with a three-point victory two weeks later, the two rivals now meet again - this time with someone's season on the line.

Next: Michigan State

Michigan & Michigan State meet for the third time this season - the home team winning in each of the first two games. The key for Michigan will be containing Allyssa DeHaan - she is MSU's leading scorer, rebounder & shot blocker. Krista Phillips will have her hands full, and will need to stay out of foul trouble. Forward Kalisha Kean is their second leading scorer & rebounder, averaging 12.2 points a game.

Not only will Michigan need to contain DeHaan, but their outside game will have to be effective enough to keep MSU honest on defense. They'll need at least one of Cooper/Benson/Minnfield or Clement to hit a couple of three point shots.

With Marquette beating Illinois, the winner of this game will be the only Big 10 team still playing.

A Brief Preview from WILX (Lansing)

From their website:

The MSU vs. Michigan WNIT game at 2pm Sunday in Breslin Center ought to be quite a battle. And the WNIT is quite a tournament. Michigan State could conceivably win the title, winning five games, all at home. Michigan won't be easy. The Wolverines gave away a victory in the final stages back on January 31st, the Spartans prevailing 61-58. Each team has a win on its own floor this season. Michigan's first year coach Kevin Borseth figures to have his team fully prepared and even though MSU has two WNIT wins, neither was that overwhelmingly impressive, so Sunday figures to be a close match up again. The winner moves on to the semi-finals.

Bus Trip to East Lansing

From mgoblue.com:

Bus Trip Planned

A bus trip is planned for the Michigan-Michigan State game. The cost per person is $10 and includes a ticket to the game. The bus is scheduled to leave Crisler Arena at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. To RSVP, please contact Katy Jackson at (734) 647-1261 or katjacks@umich.edu.

Live Blogs of the Southern Mississippi Game

Thanks to Chris for this link - from the Hattiesburg American. It contains possibly the nicest thing I've heard about Crisler in about 15 years:

The arena has kind of an old school charm to it.

Also, from a Michigan perspective, the Michigan Daily also live blogged the game.

Coverage of the Southern Mississippi Win

MichiganDaily.com (1):

The Southern Mississippi women's basketball team averages more than 72 points per game.

But that was before it came to Crisler Arena to face Michigan in the third round of the Women's National Invitation.

Last night, Michigan held the Lady Eagles to their lowest point total this season in its 59-45 victory.

"If they're not scoring points and you're scoring them, it feels pretty good," Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said.

MichiganDaily.com (2):

On most nights, even when the Wolverines win, the opposition attempts more shots than the Michigan women's basketball team.

But for just the seventh time this season, the Wolverines outshot Southern Mississippi by two last night in a 59-45 win at Crisler Arena.

And Michigan coach Kevin Borseth couldn't have been more relieved.

"That's a milestone," Borseth joked.

Mlive.com:

With the offense sputtering and a sizable lead fully evaporated, the need for a spark became necessary.

But with one fluid perimeter jumpshot and a powerful burst to the basket, Ashley Jones provided the University of Michigan women's basketball team the boost it needed in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

The junior guard finished with eight points and sparked a second-half offensive resurgence to lead the Wolverines to a 59-45 WNIT victory over Southern Mississippi on Thursday night at Crisler Arena.

ClarionLedger (Jackson, Mississippi):

The Southern Miss women's basketball team rode a late season 10-3 surge into the third round of the WNIT, but Thursday's road trip to Michigan proved to be the finale for the Lady Eagles. Michigan eliminated Southern Miss 59-45 at Crisler Arena as the Wolverines used a dominating 30-2 run in a 12-minute span to put away the Lady Eagles.

"We went 9 minutes and did not score," Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "I think it was the worst offensive performance in a segment of a game we had all year."

Before Michigan went on the huge run, Southern Miss actually took a 27-25 lead with 14:44 left in the game when point guard Andrea Barber converted on a free throw after she was fouled on a layup.

"I thought we were going to have a lot of momentum after that layup and free throw," Barber said. "Then I turned the ball over and it was just a snowball effect after that.

"You have to take your hat off to Michigan, they played great defense."

Southern Miss ends the season at 21-14 as the Lady Eagles got their first two postseason victories since 1996.

Michigan 59 Southern Mississippi 45

Not the prettiest of wins, but anything that extends the season at this point is great. Jessica Minnfield and Stephany Skrba led Michigan with 13 points a piece. Janelle Cooper added 10 and Krista Phillips had 7 rebounds. Michigan only made one more field goal than Southern Mississippi, but they shot 19 more free throws. They also out rebounded the Lady Eagles 38-27.

Next game is against Michigan State in East Lansing on Sunday.

Borseth, U-M women aim to keep shooting

From mlive.com:

For three weeks, Kevin Borseth's routine remained unchanged.

The University of Michigan women's basketball coach devoted a limited portion of his practices to teaching and the rest to shooting.

After the Wolverines' Big Ten tournament run ended with a 37-point output against Iowa, Borseth knew if Michigan was to make any sort of postseason run, offensive production would be a must.

"The bottom line is that you have to play good defense, you have to rebound, but if you can't score, you're not going to beat anybody,'' Borseth said Monday night after the Wolverines scored 75 points in their WNIT opener against Virginia Commonwealth. "I just thought we needed to shore up that area quite a bit.''

Next: Southern Mississippi

Tonight Michigan (18-13) plays Southern Mississippi (21-13) tonight at 7:00. Southern Mississippi is led by sophomore forward Pauline Love (16.4 pts/game, 10.4 rbs/game), sophomore center Stephanie Helgeson (12.1 pts/game, 6.3 rbds/game) and junior guard/forward Kendra Reed (12.1/pts game).

On paper, Michigan should be favored. They're playing at home amd have a better rpi rating (78th versus 175th for Southern Miss.). Their only common opponent is Miami of Florida, who beat Southern Miss 63-56 in a tournament and lost to Michigan 65-50 in Miami. On the other hand Southern Miss is coming off a last second win against Mississippi State and they took a very good UTEP team to overtime before losing 73-72.

The Student Printz (the Southern Mississippi student paper) has a preview:

After winning on a last-second shot Monday night, the Lady Eagles' basketball team is headed to Michigan tonight to face the Wolverines in the third round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament.

Southern Miss (21-13) is coming off a 62-61 win over in-state rival Mississippi State in which Pauline Love hit a game-winning three-pointer with 2.3 seconds remaining.
Love finished with a game-high 18 points, Kendra Reed added 15 points, Stephanie Helgeson and Liz Biland chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively. Helgeson also grabbed a team-best 12 rebounds. Southern Miss fought back from a 15-point deficit, using a 22-6 run over the last 9:48.

The second-round win propelled the Lady Eagles to the WNIT Sweet 16. They will play Michigan tonight, who also won Monday night over Virginia Commonwealth, 75-57.

"We did not draw it up that away," said Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "I have to give Pauline credit for seeing an opportunity, but we will definitely take the basket."

Thursday, March 27th 7:00pm

Jim Carty Column

Chris sent me link (thanks!) to this Jim Carty column from today's Ann Arbor News:

"Everyone came in with a whole different mindset," Cooper said. "We weren't going to accept anything but the best. We didn't want to have a season like we had the past three years."

The results speak for themselves.

Monday's win over Virginia Commonwealth was the Wolverines' 18th - just four other teams in the history of Michigan women's basketball have won more.

They're one of four teams in school history to win a postseason game. If they win Thursday against Southern Mississippi, they'll become the first team to ever win two postseason games.

Their nine Big Ten wins more than doubled the combined total over the past three years (four).

Some of it is clearly coaching. If Borseth isn't the best tactician in the Big Ten, he's one of the best.

But the coach himself has nothing but praise for his seniors.

"They're really the heart and soul," he said Tuesday. "Those kids are great people. We're going to miss their leadership. Everybody on the team likes each one of them. They really fit the mold of kids we want to recruit."

Borseth on Win Over VCU

Mlilve on the VCU game

From Mlive.com:

From the beginning, the shots fell one after another, each one providing the players with another dose of adrenaline to feed off of.

And after what had been nearly a three-week competitive sabbatical, a blistering offensive flourish proved to be precisely what the University of Michigan women's basketball team needed to extend its postseason journey.

The Wolverines' early marksmanship - along with 22 points from senior guard Janelle Cooper - laid the foundation for a 75-57 Women's National Invitation Tournament victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Monday night at Crisler Arena, providing Michigan its first postseason victory in seven years.

Michigan VCU Highlights

Coverage of the VCU win

The Michigan Daily has two articles about the game. From the first:

The Michigan women's basketball team continues to push the past further and further away.

It wasn't enough for the Wolverines to play in the Women's National Invitational Tournament for the first time since 2002.

Last night, they became the first team in the program's 35-year history to reach the third round of a postseason tournament other than the Big Ten Tournament.

Thanks to senior Janelle Cooper's 22 points and a 14-0 run to start the game, Michigan easily took down Virginia Commonwealth, 75-57, at Crisler Arena last night.

And the second, including a description of Krista Clement's amazing basket just before half time.

"(When you're) practicing every day and not playing a game, you just feel anxious to get out there," senior Janelle Cooper said. "But when you're out there, your adrenaline is flowing and you're excited to be there."

Prayer answered: If one miracle shot wasn't enough this season, Michigan made sure it got a second.

As the seconds wound down in the first half, senior Krista Clement lost control of the ball while dribbling through half court. The senior regained possession with three seconds remaining on the clock and heaved up an off-balance shot from about 35 feet away. Just like Krista Phillips' buzzer-beating shot against Wisconsin which sent the game to overtime and allowed the Wolverines to win, Clement's shot fell

"(The shot was) pretty lucky, I guess," Clement said. "Everyone was laughing. (My opponent) was like, 'you traveled and they didn't call it, and you lost the ball and you got it and then you made it.' It was pretty funny."

The shot gave Michigan a 41-25 lead at halftime and ignited the Crisler Arena crowd.

Also, mgoblue.com, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and VCU.

Michigan 75 Virginia Commonwealth 57

Michigan started out with a 14-0 run and was pretty much in control all night long. VCU did get within striking distance in the first half, but Michigan never trailed. Janelle Cooper had a huge game with 22 points and 4 assisists on 7-8 shooting (5-6 from 3 point range). Carly Benson added 11, Ashley Jones 10, Stephany Skrba 9 and Jessica Minnfield 8.

Michigan as a whole shot very well (62%, 59%/3point), won the battle of the boards and played excellent defense. Turnovers and offensive rebounds weren't pretty, but they were mitigated by quite a few assists and the overall rebounding margin (35-29).

As far as Krista Phillips goes, she played a solid game defensively, but was limited early on by VCU's defense, which plugged up the middle very effectively (not just for Phillips, but for just about anyone who tried to score inside, at least in the first half.)

Michigan will host the third round game at 7:00 on Thursday.