Unique Game, Unique Name: Akienreh Sparks Senior Night Victory

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- It was a night with more good storylines than a novel you can't put down.

It was Senior Night for by far the most prolific scorer Michigan women's basketball has ever had, Katelynn Flaherty, and classmate Jillian Dunston, who has now pulled down more rebounds than all but two players in program history.

The Wolverines were trying for their first win ever against Maryland, which was trying to lock up a share of the Big Ten championship.

But the deepest intrigue in Thursday night's (Feb. 22) game was described best by Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico: "We are fighting for our basketball lives right now. We are fighting for that NCAA berth every time we step on the court."

Michigan -- after losing four of five games to drop from No. 13 to clear out of the Associated Press poll -- had seen its season of such promise turned upside-down,

So, it was only fitting that a player whose first name is her mother's name spelled completely backward would be the difference in a 71-65 Wolverine victory that cured so many ills.

Akienreh Johnson, daughter of Herneika, came off the bench to score 17 points and grab eight rebounds -- both team highs with Flaherty sharing the scoring honors -- in 21 minutes of determined play.

Johnson had scored 38 points in the first 22 games she played this season and had missed some recent contests with an injury. But she's now scored 36 points in back-to-back games -- having scored a career-high 19 at Minnesota -- and has come from nowhere to the forefront.

"It's really great," said Johnson. "I just think that right now I'm not on anyone's scout(ing report) to where they know what to do with me. So, I took advantage of that and made myself open. If I get open, it takes pressure off everyone else."

Standout freshman forward Hailey Brown (9.0 points per game, 5.2 rebounds) injured her lower leg in the game prior to Minnesota at Michigan State, and Barnes Arico said, "I don't know if she will be back anytime soon. That's a significant loss for us."

Johnson stepped up and answered the call for playing time.

"The Coach has enough confidence to put me in the game," said Johnson, "and I know that she has confidence in me to make plays and get my teammates open. I know if I get them open that myself will be open. So, that's helped a lot."

Johnson had made just 3-of-13 three-point shots in two seasons, but the 6-foot sophomore guard from Toledo Rogers swished a trey from out top with 1:43 to play for a five-point lead.

Let's
Go
Blue!
Splash from @Hoopster_30! pic.twitter.com/4xIxt6lsk3
— Michigan Women's Basketball (@umichwbball) February 23, 2018

"The whole year, my teammates had been telling me, 'A.K., just shoot it.' So, I had to just shoot one," Johnson said.

When it was all over -- and Nicole Munger hit three clutch free throws and a basket in the final 34 seconds -- Johnson jumped into the arms of Dunston at mid-court.

"It felt nice because going into this game we knew how important the game was," said Johnson. "At half-time, we all got the mind-set: 'We're going to win this game. We're going to win this game.'

"So, when the buzzer went off and we'd finally won, I knew the feeling Jill and Kate had because they worked so hard for this, and with the win, it just felt right to jump into her arms."

Johnson and the two seniors laughed, and all was good.

She said her one-of-a-kind name, Akienreh (Uh-KEN-ray), is something she's grown to like.

"My name is my mother's name spelled backwards," she said. "When I was a kid, I really hated it because teachers could never pronounce my name. So, it was very hard. But now, it's very unique and everyone loves my name. I go by A.K. because it's easier to pronounce, but it's really cool."

Her middle name, Kechan, is her father's first name, and he was in attendance for his daughter's Crisler Center coming out party.

What had been a frustrating season became so satisfying so quickly.

"This past year's been kind of rough," said Johnson.

Barnes Arico added, "I think she was getting frustrated."

Johnson met with Barnes Arico and said, "Coach, I feel like I'm really close. What do I need to do?"

Barnes Arico said they discussed the importance of daily consistency, and how it was important to prepare in practices as if they were games. Johnson took that advice and became a practice warrior.

"To see how she played in practice was giving me the confidence to know she would be successful in the game," said Barnes Arico. "She's been a rock star for us; she's been a difference-maker.

"She has a great feel for the game, and a knack with the basketball. She's always around the ball, and she rebounds it extremely well. She's a big, strong guard and is doing such great things for us. I'm so happy for her. She's a kid coming off two ACLs, and she's truly a freshmen (playing only 10 games last season). She's still young and learning."

Johnson has become a spark at a time when the team desperately needed one.

The Wolverines (21-8, 10-6 Big Ten), who have finished their regular season and await play in next week's Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, were asked if they believed this win over No. 13 Maryland was enough to get them that coveted NCAA Tournament bid.

"To go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in my senior year would be great," said Flaherty, "and it would be awesome to get that exposure that I think we deserve at the national level, to be able to compete with the best players. I think we deserve it this year."

Dunston said, "We needed it more than anything. This was so, so crucial to our NCAA bid."

Michigan had lost all five previous meetings with the Terrapins, but got over that hump and sent the seniors off in style.

"It was double-special for me because it was senior night and I grew up in Maryland, watching Maryland, big fan of them, and I wasn't really recruited there," said Dunston. "So, for us to beat them, they are a nationally-touted team, so for us to beat them at a time we really needed to, everything just fell into place."

Dunston played solid defense and grabbed seven rebounds, pushing her career total to 833 and moving her past Pollyanna Johns (1994-98) into third place, leaving her only 18 shy of ranking second.

Flaherty has now scored 2,700 points, leaving her 118 points away from moving into fourth place in Big Ten history. She hit a key three-pointer down the stretch, taking a pass from Johnson and swishing it from the corner for a 63-59 lead with 2:35 remaining.

Her crucial shot in a crucial game provided a two-possession lead.

Flaherty said: "I remember looking at the schedule at the beginning of the season and, 'Like, wow, we have Maryland for our senior night. It could be a great opportunity because they're always a great team.' But it was just great to get our confidence back, and I think now we believe again that we can play with anybody, beating what I think is the No. 1 team in the conference. It's great -- especially going into the Big Ten Tournament."

Barnes Arico spoke to the team about maintaining its intensity and sense of urgency in the tourney.

"Our attention to detail, our focus has to be sharp," she said. "We cannot relax. And the greatest thing is, we witnessed that, we went through that, we lived that. We hit a bump in the road and lost some games because we took a breath. We cannot take a breath right now. We need to be laser-sharp. We need to be locked in. We need to be focused. We need to be demanding. Our expectations need to be up here."

Barnes Arico raised her hand high.

She added. "That was the mentality today: play as if there is no tomorrow."

The drama's building and the storylines are only beginning. If you can get a read on the Wolverines from this game, "March Madness" could be something special for them.