Michigan
13-7,4-5Big Ten
Northwestern
18-3,8-2Big Ten
Michigan Drops Close Contest at No. 23 Northwestern
1/30/2020 11:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan fought back from an early nine-point deficit to get back in the game, but Northwestern used a 7-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter to take control in the contest.
» Michigan had a trio of double-figure scorers in Naz Hillmon (27), Amy Dilk (15) and Izabel Varejão (11).
» U-M begins a two-game homestand Sunday (Feb. 2), hosting Iowa at noon. It is the annual pink game for the Wolverines, with fans encouraged to wear pink.
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: #23 Northwestern 81, Michigan 73
Records: U-M (13-7, 4-5 B1G), NU (18-3, 8-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 2 -- vs. Iowa (Crisler Center), Noon
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed within three points with 5:56 remaining but No. 23-ranked Northwestern scored seven straight points en route to an 81-73 win over the Wolverines on Thursday (Jan. 30) at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Sophomore Naz Hillmon paced the Wolverines with 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists, with classmate Amy Dilk going for 15 points, five boards, three assists and three steals. Freshman Izabel Varejão went for 11 points off the bench and junior Hailey Brown chipped in nine points on three triples.
U-M fell in an early hole, facing a 20-13 deficit after 10 minutes. NU led by as many as nine in the second quarter before Michigan mounted a comeback.
Michigan charged back in the second quarter, taking its first lead of the contest (33-32) on a Varejão layup with 1:04 left before the half. NU regained the lead on the ensuing possession to hit the break with a 34-33 lead.
U-M used an 8-0 run to get in front, capped by that Varejão layup. Hillmon and senior Akienreh Johnson each hit a pair of free throws during the spurt, with Dilk adding a pull-up jumper.
Hillmon hit two free throws to start the third quarter to push Michigan back in front before NU answered with five straight. Two more Hillmon free throws brought U-M back within two, 39-37.
Northwestern used a 9-0 run to grab a 55-47 lead, but Dilk scored on Michigan's final possession of the third to bring U-M back within five, 55-49, heading into the fourth quarter.
Michigan got within three, 64-61, on a Danielle Rauch triple at the 5:54 mark, but NU scored seven straight to regain a 71-61 lead. U-M continued to fight, but Northwestern was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the period to keep the Wolverines at bay the rest of the way.
Michigan will return to Crisler Center on Sunday (Feb. 2) to kick off a two-game homestand with No. 18 Iowa. It is Michigan's pink game, with fans encouraged to wear pink and the first 750 receiving a pink beanie. Opening tip is set for noon and the game can be seen live on the Big Ten Network.
