Kornacki: Thome Becoming a Force for Wolverines
12/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan fans didn't get the victory over No. 20 UCLA that they were hoping for Sunday (Dec. 13) at Crisler Center, but they did get a glimpse at a very bright future.
Hallie Thome, a 6-5 freshman center, poured in a game-high 24 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in an 86-77 loss to the Bruins that remained an upset possibility until Thome picked up her fourth foul late in the third quarter. UCLA turned a six-point lead into an 11-point bulge with Thome out for nearly five minutes.
Freshman guard Nicole Munger also asserted herself by coming off the bench to score 15 and make a pair of steals.
Though, it was Thome (pronounced THOAM), the Big Ten's leader in field goal percentage at .694, who kept Michigan in the game with the tall, athletic Bruins. She also leads the Wolverines with 1.3 blocked shots per game and is second with 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.
"I thought Hallie was incredible today," said Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico, adding that Thome played over "back problems" Sunday. "What we talk about in this program is the ability to bounce back, and today, for her to not have a good game in the Princeton game, and working hard and having this game against the inside presence UCLA had, I'm really proud of her.
"And I think she's going to continue to grow and improve."
Thome had eight rebounds and two blocks in the loss at Princeton last Sunday (Dec. 6) but scored only three points. She watched videotape of that game, realizing 6-2 Alex Wheatley was able to push her away from the basket and get her "away from my comfort zone" with a physical approach. Thome asked assistant coach Melanie Moore to work with her on answering that challenge.
"I wanted to attack with a good dribble and get closer to the paint," said Thome, "and work more on pushing back instead of letting her push me out."
Thome hit one short jumper, and everything else was scored right under the basket against the Bruins. The agile left-hander featured a signature reverse baby hook shot developed on her AAU team and had a three-point play against UCLA by going up hard for a layup and getting fouled.
"The coaches want me to have a post presence because then it's harder to guard both of us," said Thome, alluding to sophomore guard Katelynn Flaherty. "She's the best three-point shooter in the Big Ten. So, when they take away one, they can't take away the other, and it's worked in our favor."
Flaherty added that having Thome down low "has given me more room to breathe and create my shots," adding that Thome "opens up a lot of things" for the offense.
Thome's been able to give the Wolverines a true inside-out scoring combo to complement Flaherty, who scored 20 against the Bruins and is averaging 21.1 points per game.
"A lot of times we try to put Katelynn and Hallie on the same side," said Barnes Arico. "So, that way, if anyone helps on Hallie, it leaves Katelynn open. And I think it's great when you have that inside-outside presence.
"And coming into this year, one of our biggest concerns was who was going to play that position and give us the minutes that Cyesha (Goree) and Nicole (Elmblad) gave us last year. And Hallie's shown she really can do that, and to be able to do that as a freshman at this level is incredible."
Thome was Ohio Ms. Basketball as a senior at Chagrin Falls High, where she teamed with twin sister Hannah during a 26-1 season. Hallie also was a Parade All-American.
Louisville, Michigan State and Ohio State came knocking for her services, but Thome picked the Wolverines.
"The Michigan family is what attracted me," said Thome. "It's my home away from home. When I came here in the summer, everyone made binders for each other. Mine has 'HOME' centered on it with a block M because that's what it feels like to me. (Senior guard) Madison (Ristovski) made it for me.
"I love the family atmosphere with Coach (Barnes Arico) because she always has her kids here, and she treats me like her daughter. So does everyone on the staff. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Barnes Arico said members of the coaching staff each have daily one-on-one meetings with players, and she has Thome.
"Hallie has done a great job of coming in and just sitting in the chair across from me and saying, 'Coach, I'm struggling today' or 'Coach, today is a great day. I miss my twin. I miss home.' But we welcome that and embrace that. It's a transition, and if they're not successful on the court that brings anxiety, because they are used to being successful."
Home, in the quaint, picturesque town of Chagrin Falls, southeast of Cleveland, is a great place, too.
Thome credits developing her love of basketball and competitive nature to backyard games played against and with Hannah, a 6-1 forward at Ohio University, and Jack, a 6-8 junior post player at Marietta (Ohio) College.
"She was the point guard who gave me the ball in high school," Hallie said of Hannah. "My sister and I have played with and against one another forever. When I get home for the holidays, I'll try to put on some heels to match up with Jack (laughter). We'll play on our driveway or at the high school, and it's fun.
"My brother has dunked on the rim so many times that the rim is kind of angled down a little. And there's a stone garden behind the basket where the ball always goes. So, we push each other into that and into trees. Someone ends up crying every time. But it's fun; it's competitive."
Her eyes lit up talking about that. Thome's a competitor with a physical presence and skills that are hard to match. She scored a career high against UCLA, and that can only help feed her confidence with the Big Ten season approaching fast.
