Season recap in the Daily

From their blog "The Game":

The Wolverines will return three starters next including leading scorers Carly Benson, Krista Phillips and Jessica Minnfield. They also found a late-season gem in Ashley Jones who might crack the starting lineup, or at the very least will play a large role on the team. The other two logical contenders for startig spots, beside any star freshman that might come in, would be forward Stephany Skrba and guard Veronika Hicks. Hicks will probably replace Cooper at shooting guard, but her lack of size is a concern. Skrba and Jones will probably battle for the other spot. Skrba is a better shooter, but Jones is a much better defender and rebounder, which is a place where the Wolverines were awful this season, so my guess is Jones will start next year.

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.