The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
������ women's basketball a furious Michigan State comeback attempt to notch the win. ���You���re just happy and proud,��� senior guard Jenny Ryan said. ���It���s a good program win. You feel happy for the program that we finally did it, and you feel happy for the university. Any time you can beat Michigan State, it���s a good feeling to say you won in the rivalry game and in the in-state battle. We���re excited, but we���ll get back to work tomorrow. We have bigger goals.��� Other players weren���t so reserved about the momentous victory. ���This is amazing,��� Thompson beamed. ���This was the only Big Ten team that I didn���t have a win over. Not only is this huge for our season, but it was also really big for the seniors. ���We were elated after the game. We were jumping around, screaming. This is such a big win. At this point in the season, getting that 19th win is big for the NCAA Tournament, but also getting it over Michigan State, who is very good.��� The Spartans have been a constant thorn in Michigan���s side in recent years. After years of very one-sided scores (such as a 52-27 loss in 2009), the Wolverines were playing Michigan State tough ��� but falling short. In the seven most recent meetings between the two prior to the big win, Michigan had been within single digits five times, and within five points on three occasions. Last year, the Spartans won 65-63 in Crisler Arena on a last-second shot. ���I think it was great for the state of Michigan to see a win like that,��� Barnes Arico said. ���To have the incredible outcome that we did really speaks volumes about the players in our program and especially the senior class. It���s great to break the streak, and if anyone deserves to do it, I believe it���s our senior class, because of what they have been able to accomplish since they���ve been on campus. ���This senior class has accomplished so many things that haven���t been accomplished by a Michigan women���s basketball team ever or not in a really long time. One of the things they were able to do was beat Michigan State. For them to do it in their last chance on a day like today, they truly deserved it. It���s been a long time coming.��� Ryan had perhaps her best game as a Wolverine, as well. She scored a career-high 24 points, dished out five assists and didn���t turn the ball over at all. ���I woke up today, and I just wanted to play hard,��� Ryan said. ���[Senior forward Nya Jordan] gave a great speech to our team earlier today, and she said, ���Whatever happens, go down fighting. Just play hard.��� When Nya said that, I think it really sat well with our team ��� the pressure was off. If we go out and play our hardest, what else can we do? I think our team did that and luckily came out on the right end.��� ���Jenny was under heavy pressure for 39 minutes and didn���t have a turnover, which is incredible,��� Barnes Arico added. ���Jenny is a really emotional kid, and I was concerned about her all day, but she was aggressive offensively and she made big plays