Clement Completes Career as 4-Year Captain at U of M
By David Latva

Krista Clement, with her biggest fan, cousin Margo Brown of St. Ignace.

The long and often bumpy and disappointing road for the four seniors on the University of Michigan's women's basketball program, led by St. Ignace's Krista Clement, ended with a successful season this year.

Miss Clement, along with teammates Katie Dierdorf of St. Louis, Missouri, Janelle Cooper of Detroit, and Tashia Walker of Lansing, leave a program that, after three disappointing seasons during their first three years, is now headed in the right direction for Head Coach Kevin Borseth.

The Wolverines compiled a 21- 46 overall record and 4-44 Big Ten Conference record from 2004 to 2007, however, this year, the ladies managed to turn things around, posting a 19-14 overall record, and reaching 0.500 (9-9) in a competitive Big Ten conference.

The team's accomplishments included one win in the Big Ten tournament and two victories in the women's National Invitational Tournament. The Wolverines' season ended with a loss to rival Michigan State in the quarterfinals.

Clement, the first four-year captain in the history of the Michigan program, and her teammates were excited about the new coaching staff that included Coach Borseth, Assistant Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit, and assistant coaches Tianna Kirkland and Mike Williams.

"The coaching staff instilled a positive attitude and each player absorbed everything they brought to each practice," said Clement. "We, the seniors, are a close group of athletes and friends."

Looking back on her college career, Miss Clement credits her teammates for her own enjoyment of her years in the program.

"Playing four years with Katie, Janelle, and Tashia was one of the best experiences at Michigan," she said, "especially when all of us started the final home game of the season."

The 19 victories are the third most in the 35-year history of the Michigan program. Highest win totals previously were 22 in 1999- 2000 and 20 in 1989-90. The team's 12 home wins this year were the most at Crisler Arena.

Clement was graduated from the university Saturday, April 26. Her next experience will be with the Teaching for America Program.

Clement will make the trip to Houston, Texas, for training from June 8 to July 12 before accepting a position in a St. Louis, Missouri, inner-city middle school, teaching mathematics.

"I heard about the program from a graduate student at Michigan, and that excited me," she said. "I prayed for a long time before making my decision, and I am looking forward to the next part of my life. I will take my life experiences from living and playing basketball in St. Ignace and at Michigan to the students in St. Louis."