Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Women's Basketball Falls to Michigan, 74-59
1/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's basketball team fell to Michigan 74-59 Sunday afternoon at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. Free-throw shooting spelled the difference, as Michigan was sent to the line 35 times and sank 27 freebies (77%) compared to NU's 9-of-17 (53%).
The 'Cats are now 4-15 overall and 0-9 in the Big Ten. Three Northwestern players scored in double figures, and Emily Butler led all scorers with 19 points.
Michigan (13-7, 6-4 Big Ten) scored the first basket of the game, but Northwestern quickly answered, scoring the next four points to take a 4-2 lead. Michigan then went on a 13-2 run to lead 15-6. Northwestern (4-15, 0-9 Big Ten) cut the lead on hot three-point shooting from Dana Leonard, getting within nine (29-20) with 4:10 remaining in the half. With Michigan up by 12 with 1:53 left, the 'Cats cut the lead to seven (34-27) on more lethal shooting from Leonard to end the half.
Michigan was unable to contain the Wildcats for most of the second half. Northwestern pulled to within three (50-47) with 8:13 remaining. But a layup by Heather Oesterle put the Wolverines up by five, and a miscue by Leonard set up an open 3-pointer for Alayne Ingram to give Michigan an eight-point lead (55-47). Northwestern would get as close as seven, 60-53 on a Bill?e Russell layup, but could not hang on down the stretch.
Ingram and Raina Goodlow each scored 15 points to lead Michigan. Tami Sears had a career-high three steals while dishing out two assists, grabbing seven rebounds and added 10 points. Russell led the Wildcats on the board, pulling down eight rebounds.
The 'Cats are back in action Thursday, February 1, when they travel to Wisconsin for a 7 p.m. tilt.
