Michigan
Northwestern
Wolverines Grind Out Overtime Win Over Wildcats
1/8/2019 10:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan was down by four points with 37 seconds remaining in regulation, but got buckets from Hallie Thome and Naz Hillmon to tie the game and force overtime.
» Nicole Munger hit two free throws with 51 seconds left in overtime, turning a one-point deficit into a one-point lead.
» Northwestern missed two free throws with 41 seconds remaining in overtime, and its final shot hit the rim twice before falling away.
» Michigan had four double-figure scorers in in Naz Hillmon (21), Hallie Thome (17), Nicole Munger (16) and Hailey Brown (13).
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Michigan 79, Northwestern 78 (OT)
Records: U-M (11-5, 2-2 B1G), NU (9-6, 2-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 12 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 4:30 p.m.
• Kornacki: Hillmon Responds to Challenge With Huge Game
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Trailing by four points with 37 seconds remaining, the University of Michigan women's basketball team scored the final four points of regulation to force overtime and eventually knocked off Northwestern by one point, 79-78, on Tuesday evening (Jan. 8) at Crisler Center.
Michigan was in a 72-68 hole with 37 ticks left in the fourth quarter after a pair of Wildcat free throws. Following a Michigan timeout to advance the ball, freshman Naz Hillmon found senior Hallie Thome underneath for two with 25 seconds remaining.
U-M was whistled for a foul on the inbound play, with Jordan Hamilton heading to the line for two. She missed both, allowing Michigan to call timeout and advance the ball once again. Michigan looked over the top on the play for Hillmon, who missed her first attempt but corralled the rebound and scored to tie the game at 72 with 15 seconds left. Michigan got the defensive stop on the other end, sending the game to overtime.
Michigan scored the first three points of the extra frame on a free throw from Hillmon and a layup from Thome. NU took its first lead of the extra period, 78-77, with 1:03 remaining on a pair of free throws.
Senior Nicole Munger was fouled off the ball on Michigan's next possession and calmly knocked down two free throws with 51 seconds remaining to nudge the home team back in front by one, 79-78.
U-M was whistled for a foul on the next Wildcat possession, but Bryana Hopkins missed both with 41 seconds to go. Michigan was whistled for an offensive foul on the other end, giving NU back the ball with one more chance and 12 seconds to work with.
Hamilton had a driving lane on the right baseline and put up a short runner that hit the rim twice before falling off, preserving the one-point win for the Maize and Blue.
U-M had four players in double figures, led by double-doubles from the Ohio duo of Hillmon (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Thome (17 points, 11 rebounds). Munger turned in 16 points, with sophomore Hailey Brown going for 13 points. Freshman Amy Dilk had five points but dished out a game-high seven assists and grabbed four boards. Michigan held a 43-33 advantage on the glass and shot 49.1 percent (28-for-57) from the floor in the game.
Michigan trailed by two at the half but opened the third quarter with five straight points for a 43-40 lead on a Munger three-point play just 55 seconds into the period. The Wildcats answered with a 7-0 spurt for a 47-43 lead before junior Akienreh Johnson found Brown for a bucket down low. Dilk followed with a three-point play to push the home team back in front by one point, 48-47, with 5:19 left.
U-M managed just one more bucket the rest of the quarter as NU headed to the fourth quarter with a 56-50 lead.
Munger nailed a corner triple with 5:14 left to cut NU's lead in half, with Thome making one at the line to bring Michigan within two with 4:25 to go.
The Wildcats answered again, scoring four straight for a 67-61 lead less than a minute later. Hillmon went 1-for-2 at the line, but got her own rebound and was fouled on the ensuing putback attempt. She split the next pair as well, and Michigan scored four straight points to tie the game at 67 with 2:19 to go.
The Wildcats scored five of the next six points to set up the end of regulation.
Michigan will hit the road for two straight games, first traveling to Maryland on Saturday (Jan. 12) to take on the No. 9-ranked Terrapins. The game is set for 4:30 p.m. and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
