BY JOE STAPLETON
Daily Sports Writer
Published January 27, 2009
The Michigan women’s basketball team seems to be slowly figuring out how to win a Big Ten game on the road.
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But the Wolverines still couldn't pull out the win away from Crisler Arena, losing 77-69 to Iowa on Monday.
Last night was Michigan’s best performance in a conference road game, despite losing its fifth straight overall. The Wolverines are on their longest losing streak since dropping the last six games of the 2006-2007 season.
By working the ball into the paint to find easy buckets, Michigan (2-7 Big Ten, 9-11 overall) kept up with the Hawkeyes’ rapid scoring pace. Both teams went back and forth all night and the game had 17 lead changes in the first half alone.
From the beginning, it was clear that Michigan wanted to focus on creating a post presence.
Junior center Krista Phillips started over senior Stephany Skrba, and she made it count. Matching up against 6-foot-6 Iowa center Megan Skouby, Phillips went 8-of-15 for a season-high 16 points. She was also a rebound away from a double-double.
“She did a real good job of establishing herself really early, and that really got her confidence up,” Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said.
The Wolverines scored 32 points in the paint, far more than in recent games where they have relied more on the 3-point shot.
Skrba played just three minutes and didn't take a shot, but freshman Carmen Reynolds stepped up. The wing came off the bench and scored 12 points, most of them tough baskets down low.
“Carmen comes in and gives us an added presence down around that post and her ability to drive it,” Borseth said.
Sophomore guard Veronica Hicks bounced back nicely from her poor scoring night against Indiana and finished as Michigan’s second-leading scorer with 15 points.
“We put the ball in the basket for the first time,” Borseth said. “That hasn’t happened in quite a long time.”
Michigan matched Iowa’s intensity the entire game, but the Wolverines couldn’t close the game out in the final minutes.
Down by just two with 1:33 remaining, Michigan let 5-foot-8 Hawkeye guard Kamille Wahlin grab an offensive rebound off a missed shot by senior Wendy Ausdemore and put it in for the layup.
Michigan missed its final six shots and Iowa (5-3, 12-7) ended the game on a 6-0 run to seal the victory.
