WCBN SPORTS
  • Home
  • The Team
    • Charlie Brigham
    • Adam Bressler >
      • Articles
    • Joshua Tenzer >
      • Articles
    • Jared Greenspan >
      • Articles
    • Zachery Linfield
    • Zach Corsun
  • About Us
    • Notable Alumni
  • Blog
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • XFL
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • Sports Business
    • Sports Media
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Photos >
      • Michigan Football vs Rutgers (September 25, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Northwestern (October 23, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Indiana (November 6, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Iowa (December 4, 2021)
      • Michigan MBB vs Maryland (January 18, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Colorado State (September 3, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Connecticut (September 17, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Maryland (September 24, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Nebraska (November 12, 2022)
      • Michigan MBB vs Penn State (January 4, 2023)
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Home
  • The Team
    • Charlie Brigham
    • Adam Bressler >
      • Articles
    • Joshua Tenzer >
      • Articles
    • Jared Greenspan >
      • Articles
    • Zachery Linfield
    • Zach Corsun
  • About Us
    • Notable Alumni
  • Blog
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • XFL
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • Sports Business
    • Sports Media
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Photos >
      • Michigan Football vs Rutgers (September 25, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Northwestern (October 23, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Indiana (November 6, 2021)
      • Michigan Football vs Iowa (December 4, 2021)
      • Michigan MBB vs Maryland (January 18, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Colorado State (September 3, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Connecticut (September 17, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Maryland (September 24, 2022)
      • Michigan Football vs Nebraska (November 12, 2022)
      • Michigan MBB vs Penn State (January 4, 2023)
  • Contact
  • Donate

Women’s Basketball Crushes Attendance Record but Faces New Obstacles

2/21/2017

0 Comments

 
By: Emily Herard

The Michigan women’s basketball team experienced a bittersweet moment Sunday afternoon. While the Wolverines played in front of the largest crowd in program history, a sellout crowd of 12,707 fans, they dropped their rivalry game against Michigan State, 86-68. Enthusiastic Michigan fans helped crush the previous attendance record of 5,991 that was recorded the last time the Spartans came to Crisler in 2015. This record-shattering attendance illustrates how far the women’s basketball program has come at the University of Michigan. Fans have embraced this team’s newfound success that is built upon head coach Kim Barnes Arico’s game plan to make Michigan a women’s basketball school.

Going into Sunday’s game, the Wolverines were ranked No. 20 in the country and were looking to tie a program record of 22 wins. Instead, Michigan lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and are now 21-7 and 10-4 in the Big Ten. It seems that the Wolverines are feeling the pressure of the uncharted waters that come with being the most successful team in program history.

Before Thursday’s 72-61 lost in Indiana, Michigan’s offense was explosive, shooting a league best 40% from three point range. Led in scoring by Katelynn Flaherty (19.8 points per game), the Wolverines have also benefited from the dynamic scoring and passing abilities of Kysre Gondrezick (14.3 points per game) as well as Hallie Thome’s high percentage scoring ability in the paint (15 points per game on 63% shooting). Michigan’s success leading into this weekend could be attributed in large part to the team’s ability to move the ball with ease on offense to find one of its many scorers the best shot possible. When one player was having an off night, another would step up and the offense would continue to roll.

In the past two games against Indiana and MSU a different Wolverines team has showed up to play, one that is just a shell of the true offensive abilities of this team. Against Indiana, Flaherty was the only Wolverine who could get a shot to fall, scoring 23 points. The next highest scorer was Thome (10 pts), and the team shot a horrid 21.1% from three. Adding insult to injury, Michigan was unable to hold on to the ball, turning it over 17 times. They also struggled to stop Indiana’s number one offensive option, Tyra Bust, allowing her to score 21 points.

On Sunday, Michigan’s offensive woes continued with the Wolverines shooting only 17.6% from three. Despite the offensive efforts of Thome (21 points) and Gondrezick (19 points) Michigan was unable to overcome poor team shooting and the uncharacteristic performance of Flaherty, who only scored 4 points on 2 for 12 shooting. On the other end of the floor, the Spartans couldn’t miss, converting on 58% of their field goals and 50% from long range. An unstoppable Tori Jankoska did it all for Michigan State (28 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal) and the Wolverines were unable to find a matchup that slowed Jankoska’s scoring attack. On several occasions Jankoska pulled up and knocked down a long three in transition with a hand in her face, and she finished the game 5 of 10 from downtown.

In the back-to-back losses, Michigan has missed senior point guard Siera Thompson’s usual stabilizing presence. Thompson, who is rarely the high scorer but instead brings leadership through her court vision and ability to hit open threes, had little impact against Indiana (9 points, 2 assists) and Michigan State (2 points, 2 assists). As the starting point guard for four seasons, Thompson’s leadership on the court has been a crucial component of Michigan’s success. Kim Barnes Arico and Thompson will need to work together to help the senior regather her on-court composure in order to help the Wolverines get back on track.

After a couple of setbacks, Michigan needs to take a step back and return to the basics. As KBA has said, the team needs to enjoy the moment and forget any outside pressures that come with the higher expectations of being a ranked team. If the Wolverines continue to embrace their motto
“By Any Means” and take each game one at a time, they will find themselves playing the type of basketball that got them to the best start in program history.

The Wolverines head into Thursday’s game against Nebraska ranked No. 25 and will celebrate their seniors Siera Thompson and Danielle Williams in their last home game of the season at 7 pm. You can tune into WCBN’s broadcast of the game on our YouTube channel or here on our website.



​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016

    Categories

    All
    Adam Bressler
    Business
    Football
    Golf
    Jared Greenspan
    Joshua Tenzer
    Lacrosse
    Media
    Michigan Football
    MLB
    NBA
    NCAA Basketball
    NCAA Football
    NFL
    NHL
    Power Rankings
    Softball
    William Gregory
    XFL

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from Mike Sinko