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12/7/05-
What A Difference A Week Makes!
A week ago, the Michigan
women’s basketball team was reeling after back to back losses to Mid
American Conference teams. First came a tough overtime defeat at the
hands of Toledo, who may have had extra reason to want to knock the
Wolverines off due to there being two Toledo natives (Kelly Helvey
and Jessica Minnfield) on the Michigan roster. This was followed up
by a particularly embarrassing loss to Central Michigan, which
featured a near total second half collapse by the Maize and Blue.
With the University of Maine coming to Ann Arbor for a December 3
contest, Cheryl’s Crew needed to make something positive happen. The
coaches came up with a new starting lineup versus Maine. Kelly
Helvey and Krista Clement would start at the guard positions.
Ta’Shia Walker got the nod at center, with Janelle Cooper and Carly
Benson at the forward spots. This lineup is a more experienced one,
with only one freshman (Benson), three sophomores (Clement, Cooper,
Walker), and the team’s only junior (Helvey).
Cooper and Walker scored Michigan’s first eight points as the home
team took an 8-6 lead. Walker and Helvey then boosted the advantage
to 18-6. Maine battled back and the first half ended with Michigan
ahead by five points.
Michigan took control in the second half, with Clement, Helvey, and
Benson pushing the lead into double digits. Walker also got in on
the act and with time running down the Wolverine Women had a 14
point lead. Maine was able to make a late run but it was too little,
too late and Michigan earned a 68-60 win.
Ta’Shia Walker finished with a team high 24 points and also had nine
rebounds. Kelly Helvey led in rebounds with 13 and also scored that
many points while adding two more blocked shots to her season total.
Krista Clement had five assists to tie with Helvey for the game high
in that category, and Clement also had three steals.
Three days later, Michigan looked to continue their winning ways
against Maryland-Eastern Shore (hereafter referred to as UMES).
Figuring there was no need to mess with a good thing, Coach Burnett
sent the same five players out for the opening tip as she had for
the Maine game.
The Wolverines came out red hot in this game, and led 16-2 in the
early going. Michigan remained accurate with their shooting, but
UMES also started to hit their shots and so the score got closer. At
the half, Michigan’s once large advantage had been cut to only four
points at 45-41. Both teams hit an identical seven of ten three
point shots in the first twenty minutes which no doubt had something
to do with the high scoring totals.
Things were different in the second half, as both defenses did a
better job of holding the scoring down. Michigan led by only seven
points before an 11-0 run took most of the remaining wind out of the
UMES sails. UMES began fouling in a desperate attempt to get back in
the game, and Michigan was able to ice the game at the free throw
line. In the end the final score was Michigan 77-UMES 59, almost
exactly the opposite of the 79-57 tally that Michigan found
themselves on the short end of against Central Michigan.
The big story of the UMES game was Kelly Helvey. Kelly has always
been a very hard worker who has done a lot of things well for the
team, but has never really been a big scorer. Well, now you can go
ahead and call her a big scorer. How does 30 points sound? That is
what Kelly was able to do against UMES, making good on eight of ten
total field goals, three of three three pointers, and 11 of 12 free
throws. Oh yeah, and she also led the team in rebounds with 11, and
had four assists, three steals and a block. Kelly Helvey is getting
better and better all the time, and this is a very good thing for
Michigan.
Three other Michigan players scored in double figures, so Kelly had
plenty of help. Rookie Carly Benson finished with 15 points and also
added five steals and a pair of blocks to the Michigan cause.
Ta’Shia Walker had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Janelle
Cooper had 13 points, seven boards, and three assists.
Krista Clement dished out a team high nine assists while also
blocking a shot.
Michigan is now back to the break even mark at four wins and four
losses. They have shown a lot of guts and determination in coming
back to win two in a row after disappointing losses to Toledo and
Central Michigan. I think this says a lot about the quality of
players on this year’s team and the coaching staff. There may be
times this season when Michigan’s relative inexperience will betray
them, but they are a talented and tough team that will not give up.
And this in my opinion will lead to excellent results.
Next up is a Friday road game against Washington. The next home game
is Tuesday, December 13 against Fordham University. Game time is 7
pm and the place, as always, is the building with Fritz Crisler’s
name on it. If you have not been to a women’s basketball game yet,
why not make this your first? Tickets are a bargain at five bucks
for adults and three bucks for kids and seniors. You have to have
that much money lying around somewhere, right? If you are a
University employee or student, you don’t even have to fork over any
dough, just show your University ID at the gate. Let’s show some
support for Cheryl’s Crew as they move onward and upward to ever
greater things!
Vince Prygoski
prygoski@umflint.edu
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Vince Prygoski, is the Women's
basketball columnist for UMGoBlue.com. He's been a fan of Michigan
sports for as long as he can remember.
He has written a book on the history of Michigan women's
basketball that will be published soon.
Full Bio
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of Vince's Columns
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