Michigan
Maryland
Michigan Carries No. 23 Ranking into Big Ten Opener at No. 12 Maryland
12/26/2019 4:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan begins Big Ten action this weekend at Maryland, the first of two meetings between the teams in 16 days.
» It marks the return of Kayla Robbins (Mitchellville) to her home state, while director of operations Amy Mulligan returns to her alma mater.
» No. 12-ranked Maryland is Michigan's second straight ranked opponent. U-M is looking for its first win over a ranked team this season.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, Dec. 28 -- at No. 12 Maryland (College Park, Md.), 8 p.m.
TV: BTN | Live Stats | WLBY Audio
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (9-2, 0-0 B1G) will open Big Ten Conference action on the road, traveling to Maryland to take on the No. 12-ranked Terrapins (9-2, 0-0 B1G) Saturday (Dec. 28) at Xfinity Center. The game is set for 8 p.m. and can be seen live on Big Ten Network.
• The contest at No. 12 Maryland marks the beginning of Big Ten action for the Wolverines. U-M is coming off an 11-7 Big Ten season in 2018-19, winning eight of its last nine games to finish fourth in the conference. The Big Ten is playing an 18-game schedule for the second straight season as Michigan will play Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, Northwestern and Penn State in home-and-home series. U-M will host Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Iowa while traveling to Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio State and Minnesota.
• Michigan and Maryland will see each other again pretty soon or in 16 days to be exact. In between the two contests, U-M will face Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State before closing out its series against Maryland at Crisler Center on Jan. 12.
• Michigan has already had four different Wolverines record a 20-point game this season after Amy Dilk went for 26 against No. 8 Florida State (Dec. 22). Naz Hillmon, Kayla Robbins and Akienreh Johnson have each recorded two 20-point games this season. This season has marked the first 20-point games of their careers for Dilk, Johnson and Robbins, while Hillmon is now up to 10 20-point contests. Junior Hailey Brown also has two 20-point games in her career, recording one in each of the previous two seasons.
• The game marks the return to Maryland for senior Kayla Robbins. Robbins grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland, and attended St. John's College High School. In addition, director of operations Amy Mulligan graduated from Maryland in 2003.
• Michigan sophomore Naz Hillmon and Maryland sophomore Taylor Mikesell split last season's Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors as Hillmon got the nod from the media and Mikesell from the coaches. The two players grew up playing AAU together for Sports City U in Ohio. In addition, Hillmon teamed up with Maryland freshman Diamond Miller over the summer for the USA Basketball U19 team. The two helped the U.S. capture gold at the FIBA World Cup.
• No. 12 Maryland (9-2) only lost to South Carolina and N.C. State during the non-conference portion of the season, with its last game coming on Dec. 18 -- a 114-41 win at Georgia State. The Terps are averaging 88.0 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting while allowing 51.8 points per game on 33.6 percent shooting. Maryland has five players scoring in double figures in Shakira Austin (13.7 ppg), Taylor Mikesell (12.5 ppg), Ashley Owusu (12.5 ppg), Kaila Charles (12.2 ppg) and Stephanie Jones (10.3 ppg). Michigan is looking for its first-ever win at Xfinity Center.
• No. 12-ranked Maryland is Michigan's second straight ranked opponent. U-M is looking for its first win over a ranked team this season.
• The Wolverines return home to Crisler Center for their Big Ten home opener on Tuesday (Dec. 31). U-M will host Penn State at 2 p.m. Tickets to the game are $1 as part of Dollar Day. » Buy Tickets
