Site: Hattiesburg, Miss. (Reed Green Arena)
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team weathered a late Belmont rally to seal a 64-60 victory on Friday night (Nov. 28) in the first round of the Southern Mississippi Lady Eagle Classic at the Reed Green Arena. Belmont scored nine points in the final 3:33 to cut a 10-point Michigan lead all the way to one point with 13.7 seconds remaining, but U-M held on thanks to two free throws from senior guard Jessica Minnfield (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) with seconds remaining.
Senior Stephany Skrba (Toronto, Ontario/Langstaff Secondary School) led Michigan from the floor, tallying 15 points on six-of-11 shooting. She also had nine rebounds, one shy of her first double-double of the season. Senior Carly Benson (Carney, Mich./Carney-Nadeau Public School) and Minnfield were also in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
With Michigan holding a 48-40 lead midway through the second half, Belmont mounted a comeback, cutting the lead to four points with a three-point play by Belmont's LaWanna Holiday and a free throw. U-M countered with the play of Benson, who knocked down two crucial three-pointers to give Michigan a 56-46 lead at the 3:51 mark. The Bruins then went on a critical 9-3 run late in the half to keep the game within reach before Minnfield iced the win.
Both teams came out and exchanged early buckets in the opening minutes of the second half, but U-M was able to take a 43-36 lead on the heels of six points from Skrba. The Wolverines built a 10-point lead, 48-38, at the 8:21 mark behind a strong presence on the glass, outrebounding the Bruins, 16-8, and scoring 24 points in the paint to Belmont's 14.
Belmont scored the first points of the game, but the Wolverines opened up a 9-2 lead behind a 7-0 run sparked by five consecutive points from Minnfield. Michigan built a 16-9 lead, but the Bruins chipped away with nine unanswered points to take a 19-16 lead at the 5:40 mark of the half.
Nine consecutive points by the Wolverines, including six points from Skrba, put Michigan ahead, 27-19, with just under the three minutes left to play in the first frame. Belmont then came back to take a 30-29 lead thanks to a trio of long-range buckets with less than a minute remaining in the half, but a steal from Minnfield resulted in a long outlet pass to junior center Krista Phillips (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Aden Bowmen Collegiate), who with a layup sent Michigan into the break with a 31-30 lead.
Skrba led all scorers at halftime with eight points on four-of-eight shooting from the field, while Belmont's Jessica Bobbitt led all players with five rebounds. U-M posted a 52-38 rebound advantage in the game.
Michigan concludes action at the Southern Mississippi Lady Eagle Classic on Saturday (Nov. 29) when it takes on host Southern Mississippi for the Lady Eagle Classic title at 4 p.m. CST in Reed Green Arena in Hattiesburg, Miss. |
Monday, December 1, 2008
Michigan women's basketball downs Belmont, 64-60
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