The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
women's basketball knew that was going to be my last shot ever on the Crisler Center floor," Ryan said. "At those moments, it kind of hits home that, 'This is it.' I looked at Coach, and it was a special moment, because I can't thank her enough for all she has done for us as a team and a program. It was sad that we only had a year together and that it went by so fast. But we also know we have more games to play and more goals to reach." It was a special moment for both coach and player. "Anyone who knows Jenny Ryan, you have to be proud of her," Barnes Arico said. "She is just such a tremendous kid. She's all about the team — a coach's dream. I told her I was proud of her and congratulations, because she deserved to finish on Crisler the way she did. I think they tried to keep their emotions in check, for the most part." This program has come a long way since Ryan and the Wolverines' four other seniors — Rachel Sheffer, Kate Thompson, Nya Jordan and Sam Arnold — first arrived on campus. And the win over Northwestern was perhaps the perfect way to celebrate the accomplishments of one of the most successful classes in program history. For starters, the five seniors notched their 78th victory, tying the program record for wins in a fouryear span; they later broke that record with a 67-40 win over Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. It also gave them 20 wins on the year — the first time since 1999‑2000 that the Wolverines reached that plateau during the regular season. And on a night designated to honor the senior class, the group could not have done more on the court. Seniors accounted for Michigan's first 48 points — and 52 of the final 55 — including a game-high 17 from Sheffer. "It's kind of a metaphor for how Point guard Jenny Ryan and the senior class set the program record for wins in a fouryear span, notching their 79th career victory in the Big Ten Tournament. photo by per Kjeldsen