Michigan to Close 2020 with New Year's Eve Matinee Against Wisconsin

» Michigan will close the calendar year with a matinee against Wisconsin, marking the third straight season that U-M has played at home on Dec. 31.
» Michigan and Wisconsin rank 1-2 in the Big Ten in terms of rebounding margin. U-M is also first in rebounding defense, with UW ranking first in rebounding offense.
» Thursday's game is the first of two contests between the teams this season, with Michigan traveling to Wisconsin for a rematch on Jan. 14.

This Week

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (5-0, 0-0 B1G) will bring the 2020 calendar year to a close by hosting Wisconsin (3-2, 0-2 B1G) at Crisler Center on Thursday (Dec. 31). The game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten Network+. It is Michigan's third straight season hosting a game at Crisler on New Year's Eve.

Hail From Home

Game days may look different this season, but the tradition of cheering on Michigan women's basketball continues. Hail From Home is our way to virtually bring the excitement of game day to fans. Throughout the season, fans can look forward to a variety of digital engagements including a game day check-in with monthly prizes, fan cutouts at Crisler Center, game day playlists, Crisler scoreboard messages, special theme games, and more. » Hail From Home

Wolverine Notes

• Michigan's contest against Wisconsin will bring 2020 to an end for the Wolverines. U-M enters the final day of the 2020 calendar with a 16-8 record in games played this year, going 11-8 in the final 19 games of the 2019-20 season combined with a 5-0 mark to start 2020-21.

• Michigan will play on New Year's Eve for the fourth straight season and the seventh time in program history. U-M's first NYE game came on Dec. 31, 2006. The Wolverines are 2-4 all-time on the final day of the year, winning the last two games at home against No. 12 Minnesota (76-60, 12/31/18) and Penn State (82-48, 12/31/19). This marks Michigan's third straight NYE contest at Crisler Center.

• Wisconsin (3-2, 0-2 B1G) is coming off an 89-82 overtime win against Valparaiso on Dec. 20. The Badgers have a pair of double-figure scorers in Sydney Hilliard (23.0 ppg) and Imani Lewis (14.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg). UW is averaging 77.0 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting while allowing 72.6 points per game on 38.5 percent shooting. Michigan has won the last eight against the Badgers. The teams are scheduled for a rematch Jan. 14 in Madison.

• Michigan and Wisconsin enter the game as the top two teams in the conference in rebounding margin, with U-M coming in first at +12.8 and Wisconsin second at +8.8. The Maize and Blue leads the B1G in rebounding defense, allowing just 30.4 boards per game, while UW paces the league in rebounding offense by grabbing 45.2 caroms per contest.

• In the most recent meeting of the series, Michigan used a fast start and a balanced scoring attack in a 68-56 road win over Wisconsin on Jan. 16, 2020 at the Kohl Center. Naz Hillmon recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting and 14 boards. Amy Dilk turned in 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, with Kayla Robbins (12 points, eight rebounds) and Hailey Brown (12 points) rounding out Michigan's double-figure scorers. Michigan held a 48-23 advantage on the glass, with Akienreh Johnson grabbing a career-best 11 boards. U-M scored 27 second-chance points, compared to UW's four.

• Juniors Naz Hillmon and Leigha Brown have each scored in double figures in all five of Michigan's games. Hillmon has scored at least 18 points in all five contests, ranking second in the Big Ten in scoring (24.8 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (9.2 rpg). Brown is averaging 18.0 points per game (11th in the Big Ten) while adding 4.2 boards and 3.4 assists per game. The duo is the second-highest-scoring pairing in the conference, turning in 42.8 points per game. On top of that, the two are combining to shoot 65.0 percent (80-for-123) from the floor. Michigan is one of two schools (Iowa) to have two players in the top 10 of scoring in the Big Ten.