Michigan
11-4,2-2Big Ten
Ohio State
9-6,2-2Big Ten
Hillmon's Double-Double Not Enough as Wolverines Fall at Ohio State
1/9/2020 9:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan closed within three points with 1:03 to go, but Ohio State made a tough bank shot as the shot clock expired on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to five with 26 seconds left.
» Naz Hillmon recorded her second straight double-double, finishing with 24 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the floor and 15 rebounds. Kayla Robbins chipped in 17 points as the other Wolverine in double figures.
» Tonight's game was the lone meeting between the rivals this season and the eighth straight contest between the two to be decided by single digits.
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Value City Arena)
Score: Ohio State 78, #24 Michigan 69
Records: U-M (11-4, 2-2 B1G), OSU (9-6, 2-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 12 -- vs. No. 17 Maryland (Crisler Center), Noon
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team closed within three points with 1:03 remaining, but Ohio State beat the shot clock on the ensuing possession with a tough shot in the paint to push the lead back to five as the Wolverines could get no closer in a 78-69 loss to the Buckeyes on Thursday night (Jan. 9) at Value City Arena.
With Ohio State's lead pushed to eight points with 2:25 remaining, junior Hailey Brown connected on her second triple of the game to trim the lead to five, 70-65, at the 2:11 mark. Michigan forced an OSU turnover and sophomore Naz Hillmon corralled an errant Michigan shot for a layup, bringing the Maize and Blue within a possession, 70-67, with 1:29 to go.
Following an Ohio State bucket, senior Akienreh Johnson hit two free throws with 1:03 remaining to keep Michigan within three, 72-69. On the ensuing Ohio State possession, Madison Greene beat the shot clock with a tough jumper on the right block to nudge the OSU lead back to five with 26 seconds left. Michigan could get no closer the rest of the way as Ohio State wrapped up the nine-point win by going 6-for-6 at the free throw line.
Hillmon recorded her second consecutive double-double, going for 24 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the floor and 15 rebounds. Senior Kayla Robbins joined her in double figures with 17 points, with Brown chipping in eight points. Michigan held a 39-25 advantage on the glass, but Ohio State hit 11 three-pointers in the game.
Michigan doubled up Ohio State early, taking a 12-6 lead on six points from Hillmon, a triple from Brown, a layup from Robbins and free throw from Johnson a little over five minutes into the contest.
Michigan grabbed a seven-point lead, 31-24, off a Hillmon layup with 4:14 left in the second quarter. OSU closed to within a basket with 1:05 left in the period after hitting back-to-back triples, but Hillmon hit one free throw with 46 seconds left to nudge the lead back to three points, 38-25.
Neither team could convert on their final possessions as Michigan hit the halftime break with a 38-35 lead, getting 18 points and nine boards from Hillmon and 10 points from Robbins over the first 20 minutes.
Ohio State used a 7-0 run to take a 44-43 lead on a fast-break layup at the 5:46 mark of the third quarter, but a pair of Hillmon free throws stemmed the tide and pushed Michigan back in front, 45-44, at the 5:34 mark.
The teams went back-and-forth over the final minutes of the period, with the score tied at 55 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ohio State scored five straight points for a 64-61 lead as Michigan called timeout with 5:11 left in the contest. The run continued as Ohio State scored four more for a 68-61 lead with three minutes to go before Michigan made one final push at the end.
Michigan will be back in action Sunday (Jan. 12), when they host No. 17-ranked Maryland at Crisler Center. Opening tip is scheduled for noon, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
