Women’s basketball vs. Texas A&M

By joe stapleton, written on Nov. 20, 2008

Tipoff Alright we’re ready to get started.  Texas A&M comes into the game ranked No. 7 in the country.  This could be a big win for Michigan early in the season, and would definitely get the taste of Akron out of its mouth.  Starting for the Wolverines — Melinda Queen, Carly Benson, Jessica Minnfield, Stephany Skrba and Veronica Hicks.

18:24 Minnfield scores a very nice drive.  The Wolverines look confident and are moving the ball well on offense so far.

17:46 A&M is clearly trying to run on Michigan and use their superior athleticism.  So far, it’s working.  Texas has already forced a turnover and a foul on a layup.  

17:18 A&M is applying some full-court press, and it is clearly bothering the Wolverines.  They need to find a way to break the press, and Borseth calls a timeout to address it.

15:49 Skrba is playing strong in the post, working hard for rebounds.  It’s going to be a war down there, and Krista Phillips is again riding an exercise bike.  Score: 7-4, Michigan.

14:02 Michigan shows it can run too, getting a fast-break bucket from freshman Kalyn McPherson, who just entered the game.

13:12 Pretty back-door cut by Texas A&M.  That’s Phillips’ job to recognize that.

11:22 A&M collapses on any Michigan player cutting to the basket.  They are forcing the Wolverines to know where the open pass is.  So far, Michigan has responded well-Queen drew two defenders and had a nice dish to Phillips who put it in.  If they can get that going the whole game, the Wolverines have a chance to pul off the upset.

9:40 Minnfield looks out of synch.  She has already turned the ball over twice and just picked up her first foul.  Borseth may put freshman Courtney Boylan in soon.

8:40 Michigan has tried the high screen-and-roll a few times, with limited success.  It’s the drive-and-dish that’s working for them.  Score: 19-13, Michigan.

8:14 Boylan comes in for Veronica Hicks.  It will be interesting to see how she responds after the Akron game.

7:14 A&M just grabbed four offensive rebounds in a row, much to the chagrin of coach Borseth.  With Phillips relegated to the exercise bike, the Wolverines are having a hard time working the ball inside.

6:40 A&M has switched to a 2-3 zone, undoubtedly to cut off Michigan from driving to the basket, which is how they have gotten most of they’re points.  However, the Wolverines can shoot, so this strategy may backfire.

5:34 Boylan draws a charge, then quickly turns the ball over.  Kind of mirrors the way the game has been going for Michigan, although they are clinging to a slim 20-19 lead.

4:11 Minnfield catches a bump on her way to a lay-in and finishes the and-1.  Nice play.  Michigan is playing well-they’re not panicking with a lead (23-19), making smart passes, and playing absolutely suffocating defense.  Very impressive so far.

3:16 Michigan goes with a very small lineup in the backcourt, with Minnfield, Hicks and Boylan.  It is a stretch to think they can out-quick the Aggies, but it looks like they’re trying.

1:45 Big answer thee from Phillips to make it 28-22.  It came from a nice kick-out from Boylan.  The drive-and-dish formula is working for the Wolverines, and there is no reason to stray from it.

Halftime 30-26, Michigan.  The Wolverines have got to be very happy with this lead at halftime.  This is the seventh-ranked team in the country, and this same Michigan team recently lost by too much to Akron.  The good news for the Aggies is that they have a lot of room for improvement, and chances are they will come out swinging in the second half.  The question: will Michigan be ready?  

Still Halftime Stats are in, and Michigan held the Aggies to 28 % shooting and outrebounded them.  However, the Wolverines also have 12 turnovers, and the Aggies have half that.  If Michigan ends the game with these kinds of numbers, they game is theirs.

18:19 So far, Michigan has come out strong, and A&M looks flustered.  They probably weren’t expecting this.  Score: 35-30, Michigan

17:03 A&M has gone back to man.  It’s better than zone, but Benson has already taken advantage of it by taking her defender off the dribble and scoring easily.  Minnfield and Phillips look to be on the same page.  They’ve combined for 18 points, and most of Phillips’ have come on assists from Minnfield.

15:10 It’s a time out, and TCF Bank has unveiled a new promotion, the hamster ball race.  Two contestants race down the court and back in huge hamster balls.  Yes, it is as entertaining as it sounds.  One of them, some male Ann Arbor resident, fell numerous times.  Hilarious.  The other contestant, a female Michigan student, looked like she had actually practiced.  That has to be cheating in some way.  Back to the game.

14:38 Very impressive drive by Melinda Queen.  She used a nice hesitation move and completely froze her defender.  

14:22 A&M takes their first lead of the game, 40-39.  It will be very interesting to see how Michigan responds to the challenge, and it will tell us a lot about the team.

13:03 Michigan is playing great defense right now, the best they’ve played all season.  They just forced A&M into a shot-clock violation, and they have been deflecting passes all over the place, especially Minnfield.  Speaking of which, she just nailed a huge three to put the Wolverines up by two. 

10:11 Aggie Tyra White just exited the game with a leg injury-didn’t look too serious, and that should help the Wolverines; she is A&M’s leading scorer with 11.  Michigan holds a slim lead, 43-42.

8:21 A&M is already in the bonus.  During the rebound for an A&M free throw, Aggie Sydney Colson was called for a technical and Boylan nailed two free throws for the Wolverines.  This could be a momentum shift. 

6:58 On a rare fast break opportunity for the Wolverines off of a deflected pass, Boylan draws a foul on a tough drive to the basket.  Right now, the Aggies hold a three-point lead.  All Michigan needs to do is keep it close until the end, and it feels like they can pull it out.  Right now, they are doing everything they can. 

5:26 Aggie Takia Sparks nails a heartbreaking three-pointer to put A&M up four, but Minnfield comes right back down the court and draws a foul on her way to the basket.  She makes both free throws. 

3:57 Michigan has had a harder and harder time stopping A&M as the half has progressed.  Right now, they still hold a four-point lead.  Michigan is scoring with them, but the issue is stopping them.  One thing Michigan is doing is slowing the game down by drawing a lot of fouls, which favors their style of play.  This game could come down to free throws.  If it does, Michigan has to hope Boylan is at the line; she’s 6-6 tonight.

2:42 While the Wolverines are drawing fouls, they have gone ice-cold from the field.  A&M holds a three-point lead.

2:06 Quite a game so far.  There is a lot at stake for both of these teams.  This was clearly a trap game for A&M-they never expected to get this kind of a game from Michigan.    

1:22 A&M has scored to go on top by five (57-52).  Queen draws a foul.  These free throws have to go in or it could be the ball game.

1:02 Queen makes them both.  Very clutch. Michigan down by three. 

0:21 Borseth calls a time out.  There are 14 seconds left on the shot clock.  It’s unclear wether he wants a quick two or a three to tie. Phillips gets a wide-open layup off an assist from Minnfield.  The Aggies’ lead is now one.

0:13 57-56 A&M.  Michigan is pressing full-court, and foul as soon as the ball is inbounded to get the ball back.  Aggie Danielle Gant makes the first, and Borseth calls time out to ice her before the second.

End of Game Gant made the second, Michigan pushed the ball up court and Benson missed a long three.  A tough loss, but the fact is the Wolverines took on the No. 7 team in the country and played them down to the wire.  They were one or two shots away from winning, and at this point, the team can accept moral victories.