Michigan
21-14
Florida Gulf Coast
33-5
Wolverines' Season Ends at FGCU in WNIT Semifinals
3/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 31, 2016
» Michigan ends its season with 21 wins, the second-best total in school history.
» Madison Ristovski matched a season high with 19 points. She ends her career as Michigan's leader in games played (137) and wins (83).
Site: Fort Myers, Fla. (Alico Arena)
Event: WNIT (Semifinals)
Score: Florida Gulf Coast 71, Michigan 62
Records: U-M (21-14), FGCU (33-5)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team took a 60-59 lead on a triple from sophomore Katelynn Flaherty with 2:47 remaining, but Florida Gulf Coast hit back-to-back three-pointers en route to a 71-62 win in the WNIT semifinals on Thursday night (March 31) inside Alico Arena.
Flaherty hit a triple from the top of the key to give Michigan its first lead at 60-59 since the first quarter with 2:57 remaining. The Eagles hit back-to-back three-pointer, the second extending their lead to five, 65-60, with 1:33 remaining. Michigan scored two more points down the stretch, coming from a pair of junior Siera Thompson free throws. U-M fouled to extend the game to provide the 71-62 final margin.
Playing in her final game in the Maize and Blue, senior Madison Ristovski turned in a season-high 19 points to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 34 minutes. Flaherty finished with 13 points, with Thompson going for eight points, seven rebounds and two assists. Michigan held a 45-25 advantage on the glass but shot just 37.3 percent (25-for-67) from the floor for the game.
Michigan scored five points in the final 20 seconds of the third quarter on a Ristovski baseline fadeaway and a freshman Nicole Munger three-point play off a steal in the open court with six seconds remaining. Michigan, which trailed by as many as 10 in the frame, headed to the fourth down just two, 47-45. Ristovski had 12 points in the quarter, including a pair of triples, to keep the game close.
Ristovski tied the game on Michigan's first possession of the fourth quarter on a nifty layup, but FGCU regained the lead on the next possession with a left-wing triple. Following a Thompson transition jumper, Michigan called timeout with 8:28 to go and down just one, 50-49. Michigan trailed by four points with 3:55 left, but Flaherty hit a pair of free throws followed by her triple to push Michigan in front and set up the final sequence.
After FGCU scored the game's first basket, Michigan went on a 9-0 run behind four points from Flaherty, Thompson, Ristovski and Freshman Hallie Thome. FCGU answered with a 13-0 run to regain a 16-9 lead, before junior Danielle Williams hit from the elbow to stem the run, sending the teams to the quarter break with FGCU up 16-11.
Thome had a couple looks at the basket on Michigan's final possession before the half but came up empty as FGCU took a 28-22 halftime lead. Flaherty led the way for Michigan with six points, with Thome and Ristovski each chipping in five. Michigan shot 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from the floor, compared to 39.3 percent (11-for-28) for the Eagles.
U-M completes its season with a 21-14 record, the second-best win total in school history. Ristovski and senior Kelsey Mitchell complete their careers with the most wins (83) by a class. Fifth-year senior Halle Wangler, who joined Michigan prior to the 2013-14 season, completed her career tonight as well.
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Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre
