Michigan
5-0
Gonzaga
3-1
Wolverines Lead Wire to Wire to Beat No. 25 Gonzaga
11/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2016
» Siera Thompson became Michigan's career leader in three-pointers in the contest, hitting five to move her career total to 208. She passed Carmen Reynolds' previous record of 205.
» Katelynn Flaherty scored 15 points in the first quarter, helping Michigan build an early lead. She finished with 22 points and a career-high seven assists. Thompson scored 21 and Hallie Thome chipped in 14 to round out U-M's double-figure scorers.
Site: St. Thomas, USVI (University of the Virgin Islands Sport and Recreation Center)
Event: Paradise Jam (Reef Division)
Score: Michigan 78, #25 Gonzaga 66
Records: U-M (5-0), GU (3-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Winthrop - Paradise Jam (St. Thomas, USVI), 9 p.m. AST
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team got a pair of 20-point performances from junior Katelynn Flaherty and senior Siera Thompson and never trailed in a 78-66 win over No. 25-ranked Gonzaga on Thursday evening (Nov. 24) at the University of the Virgin Islands Sport and Recreation Center.
Flaherty went for 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting to go with a career-high seven assists before fouling out. Thompson became Michigan's career three-point leader in the contest, putting in 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including a 5-for-6 showing from three-point range. Sophomore Hallie Thome rounded out Michigan's double-figure scorers, putting in 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks. The Wolverines also received 17 points from the sophomore duo of Boogie Brozoski (9) and Nicole Munger (8) off the bench.
In the first of its three games at the Paradise Jam, Michigan raced out to a 9-2 lead behind points from Flaherty (5), senior Danielle Williams (2) and Thome (2) just two minutes into the contest. Michigan's hot shooting continued as Flaherty hit a deep triple from the right wing to force a Gonzaga timeout at the 6:31 mark of the first quarter.
Brozoski hit a 35-foot three-pointer as time expired to send Michigan to the half with a 44-34 lead. Flaherty led the way with 15 points in the opening 20 minutes, with Thompson chipping in 14.
The third quarter was back and forth, but Michigan still held a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter (62-52).
Michigan opened up an 11-point lead, 67-56, on Thompson's fifth triple of the evening with 6:22 to go. Gonzaga answered with a 7-0 run and called timeout with 4:28 remaining as Michigan held a 67-63 lead.
The teams traded empty possessions before Munger's corner triple from to beat the shot clock on an assist from Thome nudged Michigan's lead back to seven with just 3:19 left. The Zags once again cut the lead to four, 70-66, following a Michigan turnover in the backcourt with 44 ticks left.
Thompson, Munger, Williams and Brozoski then combined to go 8-for-8 from the charity stripe to seal the U-M win.
Michigan will face Winthrop tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 25) in its second game of the Paradise Jam. Tip is set for 9 p.m. Atlantic Time (8 p.m. EST).
Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre
