Second-Half Surge Lifts Wolverines Over Marquette

Monday, November 16

Ann Arbor, Mich.

6:30 PM

Michigan

2-0

Marquette

1-1

Marquette

Michigan

11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Nov. 16, 2009

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Arena)
Score: Michigan 67, Marquette 50
Records: Michigan (2-0), Marquette (1-1)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Nov. 19 -- vs. Southern Mississippi (Crisler Arena), 7 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman guard Dayeesha Hollins (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) scored 10 of her 17 points in the second half and the Wolverines shot 57.7 (15-of-26) percent from the floor in the second frame as the University of Michigan women's basketball team overcame a 26-20 halftime deficit with a 47-24 second-half scoring advantage to defeat Marquette, 67-50, on Monday night (Nov. 16) at Crisler Arena.

Hollins was the game's leading scorer on 6-of-12 shooting and was joined in double figures by junior guard Veronica Hicks (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) and sophomore forward Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who had 13 and 11 points, respectively. Senior forward Ashley Jones (Southfield, Mich./Martin Luther King) posted a game-best 10 rebounds.

Michigan struggled to find any offense in the first half but was able to use defense to force turnovers and keep the Golden Eagles from getting second-chance shots. It was a slow start for both teams with neither squad scoring a bucket until four minutes had gone off the game clock. Marquette was able to jump out to a 5-0 lead, but the U-M defense forced several turnovers and was able to get a little offense going and cut the Marquette lead to 7-7 early with two early jumpers from Hollins.

Marquette used a 13-1 run late in the half to open up a 10-point lead at 26-16, its largest lead of the half, but buckets from senior guard Kalyn McPherson (Traverse City, Mich./West) and Hicks gave the Golden Eagles a six-point lead heading into the break. Statistically speaking, Marquette was getting to the foul line and making things happen. In the first half, the Golden Eagles reached the foul line six more times than the Wolverines and were 11-of-13 from the charity stripe as opposed to U-M, which was 4-of-7 from the line. In addition, U-M was 0-for-5 from long range.

Trailing Marquette by six points at halftime, the Wolverines opened the second half with a sense of urgency. U-M got itself right back into the game in the opening minutes behind a 15-9 run, sparked by baskets from Reynolds and Hicks and tied the game at 35-35 at the 12:51 mark of the second half. The teams traded baskets and Marquette took a 39-38 lead on a three-pointer from Angel Robinson but that was the last deficit they faced as the Wolverines went on a 30-11 run to close out the game and move to 2-0 on the season.

Jones was key throughout the first several minutes of the second half, coming up with several defensive stops as well as creating havoc for the Marquette guards under the basket. Reynolds, who scored 19 points and had five three-pointer in U-M's last game, started to heat up from behind the arc in the second half, and with a three-pointer at the 10:55 mark, gave U-M its first lead of the game. The Wolverines, who were 0-for-5 from behind the arc in the first half, found their range in the second half and ended the game with six three-pointers.

The Wolverines close out their three-game season-opening homestand against Southern Mississippi on Thursday (Nov. 19). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Crisler Arena.