Coverage of the Kentucky Win

From mgoblue.com:

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball had four players score in double figures, led by 18 points from freshman Courtney Boylan (Minnetonka, Minn./Chaska HS), in a season-opening 70-60 win at Kentucky this afternoon (Saturday, Nov. 15) at Memorial Coliseum.

In her collegiate debut, Boylan tallied 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-4 from three-point range. Melinda Queen (Oak Forest, Ill./Carl Sandburg HS), who made her first start since the 2005-06 season, tallied a career-high 15 points as she hit 3-of-9 from the field and added career bests for free throws made (nine) and attempted (11).

Other U-M players in double figures included Queen with 15 points, junior Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowman Collegiate) with 11 and senior Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) with 10.

and quotes from Courtney Boylan:

On her performance... "I think that I just saw the openings and a lot of the openings we made by people penetrating and going to the basket. I saw just a little opening and I just took it when I thought I had a shot."

On the win... "It felt really good. We knew that after our exhibition that we could play a lot better. I think the game was pretty close for most of it until we broke away at the end. I think it was awesome win and it will be good going into our next game."

Kentucky.com:

Kentucky's big pre-season concerns were a lack of depth and a lack of offensive firepower.

Those worries certainly seemed founded Saturday in the Cats' season-opening 70-60 loss to Michigan at Memorial Coliseum.

"There were a lot of areas that were exposed that we were weak in today," Coach Matthew Mitchell said. "It was a very, very poor performance for us and not the way we wanted to get the season started out."

Foul trouble put UK, which shot 24.3 percent in the first half, in an early hole and the Cats could never quite climb out of it.

Five of UK's 10 available players had two fouls or more with 6:52 to go in the first half, including four starters.

Michigan took advantage, using a 9-3 run late in the first half to grab an early lead. The Wolverines carried a nine-point lead into halftime and it was 11 points 30 seconds into the second half.

Also the Lexington Courier-Journal, wkyt.com, and a brief mention the Detroit Free Press.

Courtney Boylan

From mgoblue.com's "Meet the Newcomers" article about Courtney Boylan:

• What made you want to come to Michigan? There were a lot of things that made me what to come to Michigan. First, I love the coaching staff. Everyone on staff is friendly and dedicated to making this program better. Second was education. By choosing to come to the University of Michigan, I knew that I was going to graduate with a degree that truly had meaning. Third, I love Ann Arbor. When I came for my visit, I know that I loved being close to a major airport so that I could still go home, but the actual city of Ann Arbor reminds me a little of Minnesota.

and

• What impresses you most about Coach Borseth and his staff? What impresses me most about Coach Borseth and the rest of his staff here at Michigan is their enthusiasm about the game of basketball and how dedicated they are to our basketball family. Every day that I go to practice they come fired up and ready to go and this gets me fired up! I have only been here for a couple of months now, and I already feel like a part of the family. They get involved in your life, which shows they truly care about each individual on the team.

Courtney Boylan named Minnesota Miss Basketball

Incoming freshman Courtney Boylan of Chaska, Minnesota was named Miss Basketball in Minnesota for 2008:

She averaged 20.8 points in her final season and eclipsed the 2,000-point barrier in her career.

"We would get frustrated at times because she wouldn't shoot enough," Downs said. "But that is why she is such a unique talent. She would do whatever it took to make her teammates better."

Boylan was considered one of the top players in the state as a sophomore before recruiters cooled on her until last summer. She is going to Michigan.

"I never worked harder than I did this past offseason," Boylan said. "It wasn't just physically, but mentally, too. I had to work on my ability to become a leader."

That's the exact reason the two were being honored at the conclusion of their illustrious prep careers.

"This past year was really amazing," Boylan said. "This high school season was magical."

Also, an article in the Chaska Herald.

Courtney Boylan a finalist for Minnesota Miss Basketball

Courtney Boylan, who will be a freshman for Michigan next fall has been named a finalist for Miss Basketball in Minnesota:

Finalists for the Miss Basketball award, which will be announced April 27, are Courtney Boylan of Chaska, Kiara Buford of St. Paul Central, Brianna Mastey of Becker, Brittnye McSparron of Eastview and Kamille Wahlin of Crookston.

Courtney Boylan Update

From girlsbasketballrecruit blog - Courtney Boylan, a 2008 commit for Michigan, reached the 2000 point milestone for her high school career:

2000
Courtney Boylan of Chaska topped the 2000 mark with 16 in a 50-47 loss to Lakeville North yesterday. She is only the 2nd player in Lake conference history to achieve this feat, the other being Liz Podominick of Lakeville.
Boylan is the 6th Minnesota player to make the mark this year.

National Letter of Intent Signing Day

Today was the first day of the "early signing" period where recruits could make their commitments official. Carmen Reynolds, Jamillya Hardley and Courtney Boylan are officially Wolverines. More on mgoblue.com:

"Jamillya gives us depth at the perimeter position," said Borseth. "She's very strong, athletic and skilled in addition to having great knowledge of the game. We can use Jamillya at a couple different perimeter positions. She can handle the ball at the point or play at the No. 2 or No. 3 position. She's very multi-talented."

"Carmen is a kid who grew on me over the summer when I watched her," said Borseth. "If you had to pick a player that would best suit me as a coach, that player would be Carmen Reynolds. She can do it all. She can handle the ball, she can shoot it and she can post up. Carmen is a very skilled lefty who has a great understanding of the game."

"Courtney is a floor general, an elite guard who demands a lot of respect," said U-M head coach Kevin Borseth. "She's got a ton of skill and she makes the players around her better. Courtney is very driven, a real tough kid. We're extremely excited to have her."

Janell Smith is also a verbal commitment for Michigan, but will be a preferred walk-on, as she already has a scholarship. (Hat tip to mzonefan on umgoblue.com):

KALAMAZOO -- As a point guard, Janell Smith's job is to see the whole court, make sound decisions and attack the basket.

As a Loy Norrix High School senior with a bright future, Smith is taking it upon herself to see the big picture, make

informed choices and go after her goal -- to one day play major-conference

Division I basketball.

Smith is in line to do just that, after verbally committing to the University of Michigan, where she will be a preferred walk-on in the 2008-09 season.

Smith will not be on athletic scholarship, so she will not sign a national letter-of-intent. But she is a 100 percent qualifier for The Kalamazoo Promise, meaning her tuition will be covered at U-M.

More on Courtney Boylan

Again from Girls Basketball Recruiting Blog:

Courtney Boylan 16, 10, 160.0, .700 her strong summer performance has carried over into the fall. poised, alert, good vision. Strong---a MW player grabbed her forearm as she went up for the shot. Boylan made it a three point play. Also out rebounded her taller teammates on the defensive end so she has a nose and knack for the ball. has good hang time and body control. can pen & pitch, or take it home. good leader

Courtney Boylan

According to Girls Basketball Recruiting Blog, Courtney Boylan of Minnesota has verballed to Michigan:

BOYLAN VERBALS
Courtney Boylan, Chaska, has verballed Michigan. The 5-7 guard averaged 20.9 ppg last year for the 13-11 AAAA Hawks. Boylan was Coaches Association All State in 2007, AP Honorable mention All State the last two years, St. Paul Pioneer Press Honorable Mention All State in 2007, 3rd team All Metro Star Tribune in 2007, and All Lake Conference the last four four years.

Boylan played with Metro Stars Black this summer. She was named to gbbrecruit first team summer team, was player of the week three times and was named outstanding player in the Dakota Showcase.

She joins Jamillya Hardley and Carmen Reynolds in the incoming class of 2008.

Boylan is the 39th player in the Minnesota class of 2008 to verbal and the 19th to verbal a D1 school. She is the 4th player to verbal from Metro Stars Black.