Michigan Set to Open B1G Play Against Rutgers
12/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2016
» Junior Katelynn Flaherty is 18 points away from moving into the top five all-time at U-M in scoring. Flaherty enters the contest with 1,538 career points. Stacey Thomas is currently fifth with 1,556 points.
» Michigan, which is 7-0 at Crisler Center this season, is wrapping up a four-game homestand with the contest against Rutgers. U-M is averaging 87.4 points per game at home while holding opponents to 44.9 points per game.
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The University of Michigan women's basketball team (11-3, 0-0 Big Ten) opens the Big Ten portion of the season on Wednesday (Dec. 28), hosting Rutgers (3-10, 0-0 Big Ten) at 2 p.m. The game marks "Dollar Day," with tickets and hot dogs each costing $1. Children under 18 are in free to all weekday games. The contest can also be seen live on the Big Ten Network.
• For the first time since the 2012-13 season and for just the third time in school history, Michigan won 11 games during the non-conference portion of the season. Entering Big Ten play, Michigan is 11-3 with two of its losses coming to top 10 opponents. U-M won 11 non-conference games in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, with both seasons ending with NCAA Tournament bids.
• The Scarlet Knights (3-10) come to Ann Arbor after 11 days off following a 48-37 loss to Temple on Dec. 17. RU has three players averaging at least eight points per game in Kandiss Barber (9.5 ppg), Shrita Parker (8.5 ppg) and Khadaizha Sanders (8.2 ppg). The Scarlet Knights are averaging 48.7 points per game on 34.4 percent shooting while allowing opponents to score 59.2 points per game on 37.7 percent shooting. Rutgers leads the all-time series against Michigan, 4-0.
• Michigan welcomed a new addition to the team following the holiday break. Two-time AVCA volleyball All-American Abby Cole joined the team following a two-week break from the end of the Michigan volleyball season. Cole, who was an all-state basketball player and won two Michigan state championships at Grand Haven, will have two seasons of eligibility on the hardwood.
• Michigan has topped 100 points three times this season and is fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (81.0 ppg), but the defense has put forth an impressive effort as well. U-M is allowing just 53.5 points per game (first in B1G). Michigan is one of five schools to be in the top 25 nationally in both scoring offense (19th) and defense (21st), joining Baylor, West Virginia, Duke and Florida State.
• Sophomore Hallie Thome has had no dip during her sophomore campaign, averaging 13.4 points on 63.3 percent shooting with 6.6 rebounds per game. Thome has scored in double figures in all but one of Michigan's games this season and has had more of a presence on the defensive end. She is fourth in the Big Ten with 1.9 blocks per game and has already totaled 26 blocks this season.
• Michigan had quite the non-conference season, traveling 10,554 miles and going 22 days between home games at Crisler Center. After seven straight games on the road, Michigan is in the midst of four consecutive games at Crisler. U-M is 7-0 at home this season, averaging 87.4 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor and 38.1 percent from three-point range. The Wolverines are holding their opponents to just 44.9 points per game at Crisler on 29.8 percent shooting from the floor and 22.6 percent shooting from three-point range.
Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre
