Michigan
4-0,0-0Big Ten
Akron
2-1,0-0MAC
Hillmon Tallies Career-High 28 Points to Help Wolverines Surge Past Zips
11/16/2019 5:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan outscored Akron, 25-13, in the fourth quarter to erase a three-point deficit entering the period.
» Naz Hillmon turned in a career-high 28 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the floor and 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Kayla Robbins (12), Amy Dilk (11) and Hailey Brown (10) also reached double figures for the Wolverines.
» Trailing 61-57 in the opening minute of the fourth, Michigan ripped off a 12-0 run for a 69-61 lead with 6:08 to go. Michigan's lead never dipped below six the rest of the way.
Site: Akron, Ohio (James A. Rhodes Arena)
Score: #24 Michigan 80, Akron 71
Records: U-M (4-0), Akron (2-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 23 -- vs. Notre Dame (Crisler Center), 1 p.m.
AKRON, Ohio -- Down three after 30 minutes, the No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team outscored Akron 25-13 in the fourth quarter for an 80-71 win over the Zips Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16) at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Wolverines used a 12-0 run that featured four points from sophomore Naz Hillmon, a three-point play from sophomore Amy Dilk, a three-pointer from junior Hailey Brown, and a pair of free throws from senior Kayla Robbins to turn a 61-57 deficit with 9:05 to go with into a 69-61 lead with 6:08 remaining. Michigan's lead never dipped below six the rest of the way as the Wolverines made their free throws and got timely stops to record the nine-point win.
Hillmon turned in a career-high 28 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the floor and a 10-for-11 showing at the free throw line to go with eight rebounds and three assists. Robbins went for 12 points, two boards and two steals, with Dilk chipping in 11 points, six rebounds and six helpers. Brown had eight points in the fourth quarter and rounded out Michigan's double-figure scorers with 10 points, including U-M's only three-pointers of the contest.
Akron used 11 triples to keep the game close, but Michigan shot 59.6 percent from the floor (28-for-47) and 88.0 percent from the free throw line (22-for-25) to negate the Zips' attack.
The Wolverines made six of their first seven shot attempts from the field and took a 15-8 lead on a pair of Hillmon free throws with 5:29 remaining in the first period.
Michigan, which shot 83.3 percent (10-for-12) from the floor over the first 10 minutes, led 25-12 after the first period as freshman Michelle Sidor beat the buzzer with a 15-footer.
Akron hit back-to-back triples to cut Michigan's lead to three, 35-32, to force a Michigan timeout with 4:13 left in the second quarter. The Maize and Blue responded out of the stoppage, hitting its final three shots to take a 41-34 halftime lead.
Akron opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run as Michigan turned it over three straight times, forcing a Michigan timeout with 7:58 remaining in the frame. The Wolverines switched up the defense out of the timeout, with Robbins swiping the ball at the top of the key and scoring in transition.
The Zips tied it up at 47 on a corner three with 4:51 on the third-quarter clock before Michigan went to work. The Wolverines responded with an 8-1 run to regain a 55-48 lead with 2:02 remaining in the quarter. Akron responded in kind, using a 10-0 run to enter the fourth quarter with a 58-55 lead.
The Wolverines return home to Crisler Center to host Notre Dame next Saturday (Nov. 23) at 1 p.m.
