Michigan
17-9,8-7Big Ten
Illinois
11-15,2-13Big Ten
Wolverines Rally for Big Win over Illinois
2/19/2020 10:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» U-M was down eight points in the early going as Illinois hit its first five three-pointers and shot 11-for-16 from the floor in the first quarter.
» Michigan slowly chipped away in the second quarter to be down just one at the half. U-M held Illinois to six points in the third quarter, taking a 57-48 lead after 30 minutes.
» Michigan had four players in double figures in Akienreh Johnson (22), Naz Hillmon (15), Amy Dilk (15) and Hailey Brown (14).
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: Michigan 80, Illinois 59
Records: U-M (17-9, 8-7 B1G), Illinois (11-15, 2-13 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 23 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 5 p.m.
• Watch: Postgame Report - Illinois
• Kornacki: Ball Movement Leads to Balanced Scoring
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team weathered an early barrage of there-pointers from Illinois to take an 80-59 win over Illinois on Wednesday night (Feb. 19) at Crisler Center.
Michigan had four players score in double figures, led by senior Akienreh Johnson's 22 points. She also added four boards, five assists and six steals. Sophomore Naz Hillmon went for her ninth double-double of the season, recording 15 points and 10 rebounds. Classmate Amy Dilk had 15 points, two boards and five assists, with junior Hailey Brown turning in 14 points. Michigan hit nine triples in the contest and shot an even 50 percent (26-for-52) from the floor in the game.
Illinois started off hot from distance, hitting its first five triples to lead by as many as eight points in the first quarter. Michigan slowly chipped away, getting within four points, 24-20, at the end of the period on Dilk's jumper in the lane with 31 ticks left.
U-M got back-to-back triples from Brown in the middle stages of the second quarter to tie the game at 35 with 4:27 to go.
After Illinois hit another triple, Dilk made good on a three-point play driving to the basket to once again tie the contest at 38 at the 2:53 mark. Michigan forced a five-second violation the next time down the court defensively but could not capitalize as the contest stayed knotted at 38.
Hillmon made a free throw with 44.1 seconds to left to give Michigan its first lead of the game, 39-38. Johnson hit a pair at the line with four seconds to go, but Illinois cashed in at the buzzer to take a 42-41 halftime lead.
Michigan opened the third quarter on a 6-2 run, getting buckets from freshman Maddie Nolan, Johnson and Hillmon to force an Illinois timeout with 7:41 on the clock as Michigan regained a 47-44 lead.
The run continued after the break as Hillmon scored six straight points to force another Illini timeout after a turnover at the 5:27 mark with Michigan holding a 53-44 advantage.
Michigan held Illinois to just six points in the third quarter to take a 57-48 lead into the fourth quarter.
That was all the distance the Maize and Blue needed, outscoring Illinois, 23-11, in the final frame to record the 21-point win.
Michigan will close out its season series against Michigan State on Sunday (Feb. 23) in East Lansing. The game is set for 5 p.m. and can be seen on the Big Ten Network.
