After sending out the same starting lineup for six consecutive games, Michigan coach Cheryl Burnett decided to shake things up for Saturday night’s game against IUPUI. She started freshmen Katie Dierdorf and Krista Clement in place of usual starters freshman Ta’Shia Walker and sophomore Kelly Helvey. The changes came after Wednesday’s tough 69-60 loss to Eastern Michigan.

“We’re a program that you’ll see changes in the lineup as long as I’m here as a coach,” Burnett said. “For different reasons and different strategies — and sometimes because change is good. Change for the sake of change.”

Dierdorf earned her first career start after making the most of her playing time recently. The center contributed 15 strong minutes of low-post play in the Dec. 6 victory over UNLV and followed that performance with a career-high 11-point effort against Eastern Michigan. In 29 minutes of play Saturday night, Dierdorf put in 10 points and added two blocks and three steals, both career bests.

“Having a presence in the low post really makes a difference,” Burnett said. “And that’s the difference that Katie Dierdorf gives us.”

Like Dierdorf, Clement’s play has improved recently. After coming up with the game-winning assist in the UNLV game, Clement poured in a career-high 12 points against Eastern Michigan, on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. The 5-foot-9 guard continued to play well Saturday night, notching 11 points and dishing out four assists. It was her first start since the Wolverines’ season-opener against Alabama.

“I like to have the same attitude (when I’m starting),” Clement said. “I went out there and tried to give a little spark to the team — give people some confidence.”

Meanwhile, Helvey and Walker made significant contributions off the bench in Michigan’s 68-48 victory over IUPUI. Helvey tied for a team-high seven rebounds, while Walker scored 11 points in just 14 minutes of play.

“I really thought our players reacted well,” Burnett said. “The team concept is far superior to what happens to ‘I’, and we just needed to make sure we re-emphasized that.”

Bittersweet Homecoming: Pinckney native and IUPUI junior Anne-Marie Tupper had a career day in her return to the Ann Arbor area. After a quiet first half in which she didn’t attempt a single field goal, the 5-foot-9 guard caught fire after the break. Tupper spurred the Jaguars’ second half comeback attempt with sharp shooting from beyond the arc, drilling four of her five 3-point attempts. She finished with a team-high and career-high 14 points in the Jaguars’ losing effort.

“She really, really shot the basketball extremely well, and gave them a lot of confidence toward the end of the game,” Burnett said. “I really felt like we started guarding her like we guard great players.”

Despite lighting up the Crisler Arena scoreboard in her return home, Tupper was visibly dejected following the loss.

“I haven’t been home in a while,” Tupper said. “But it’s hard to lose.”

Notes: Freshman Sierrah Moore made her first career appearance with 25.1 seconds left in the game. The Long Beach, Calif., native did not attempt a shot… Senior Tabitha Pool grabbed seven rebounds, bringing her all- time total to 631. She jumped to eighth on the Michigan all-time rebounding list, passing Jennifer Brzesinski (1992-96) … Attendance was listed at 2,052, marking the second straight game where attendance exceeded 2,000.