Michigan
Indiana
Wolverines Unable to Catch Up at Indiana
1/24/2019 8:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan closed within two points on a putback from Naz Hillmon with 3:16 left but Indiana answered with five straight points to regain control.
» Nicole Munger scored 16 points, including an 8-for-8 showing from the free throw line, with Hillmon going for 16 points and nine rebounds.
» Michigan was outrebounded for just the second time this season as IU held a 44-34 lead on the glass.
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall)
Score: Indiana 70, Michigan 60
Records: U-M (12-8, 3-5 B1G), Indiana (16-4, 5-3 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 27 -- vs. Michigan State (Crisler Center), 2 p.m.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- After trailing by as many as nine in the contest, the University of Michigan women's basketball team closed within two points with 3:16 remaining, but could get no closer in a 70-60 loss to Indiana on Thursday evening (Jan. 24) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
After a pair of free throws from senior Nicole Munger, freshman Naz Hillmon pulled the Maize and Blue within two, 60-58, with 3:16 left on a putback. Indiana countered with five straight points, including a corner triple to beat the shot clock after a loose-ball scramble, to take control of the game down the stretch.
Munger went for 16 points, including an 8-for-8 showing from the free throw line. Hillmon joined her in double figures with 16 points, with senior Hallie Thome and freshman Amy Dilk each chipping in eight points. Michigan was outrebounded for just the second time this season as IU held a 44-34 advantage on the glass. The Hoosiers also shot 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from three-point range.
Indiana scored the first bucket of the game and led throughout the first quarter with its lead swelling to nine, 17-8, on a four-point play with 3:32 left in the period. The Hoosiers took a 20-14 lead after the first 10 minutes as U-M held IU scoreless over the final 2:04 of the period to cut the lead.
Junior Akienreh Johnson banked in a three-pointer with 8:49 left in the second quarter to pull Michigan within three, 22-19.
Michigan tied the game at 27 on a triple at the top of the key from Munger at the 5:51 mark of the quarter. Following a five-point IU spurt, Munger answered again with a stepback three-pointer to keep Michigan within two, 34-32, with 3:54 to go in the second quarter.
Hillmon scored on back-to-back Michigan possessions to bring the Maize and Blue within three, 39-36, at the half.
Indiana opened a 47-38 lead with seven minutes left in the third, but Michigan slowly chipped away, eventually getting back within three points on a Hillmon layup. After an Indiana timeout to save possession at 3:46, Michigan got a stop and putback from Hillmon to get within one, 49-48.
Indiana closed the quarter on an 8-2 run for a 57-50 lead after 30 minutes.
Munger scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws with 7:58 left, trimming Indiana's lead to five, 57-52. Thome followed with a turnaround hook in the lane at the 6:53 mark, but the Hoosiers hit a corner triple on their next trip to regain a 60-54 lead.
Michigan will be  back at Crisler Center on Sunday (Jan. 27), when they will host Michigan State in the annual "Crash Crisler" game. Opening tipoff is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the game. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m.
