Michigan
21-11,10-8Big Ten
Ohio State
21-11,11-7Big Ten
U-M Falls to Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament Semifinal
3/7/2020 11:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Naz Hillmon became the fourth sophomore in Michigan history to record 1,000 career points.
» Hillmon also became the 25th Wolverine to record 500 career rebounds.
» The Wolverines will wait for their NCAA fate on Selection Monday, March 16.
Site: Indianapolis, Ind. (Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)
Score: Ohio State 66, Michigan 60
Records: U-M (21-11), OSU (21-11)
Next U-M Event: Monday, March 16 -- NCAA Selection Monday, 7 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team was unable to overcome a third-quarter deficit and fell to Ohio State, 66-60, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Saturday night (March 7) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Wolverines battled back from a 12-point third quarter deficit to tie the score at 47 with 7:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, but late OSU points secured the win for the Buckeyes.
Naz Hillmon scored 22 points to bring her career total to 1,005 and became just the fourth sophomore and 29th Wolverine in history to score 1,000 career points. She also tied a career high with 16 rebounds -- 10 of them on the offensive end -- to become the 25th player in Michigan women's basketball history to grab 500 career boards (514).
Hillmon recorded her 21st career 20-point performance and third straight.
Junior Hailey Brown and senior Akienreh Johnson also recorded double-figure scoring games, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Brown hitting three three-pointers. Brown also added seven rebounds and Johnson pulled down six, while Amy Dilk had a team-best four assists and two steals.
Michigan put Ohio State on ice early and used a 7-0 run, capped off with a Dilk driving layup to take a 7-4 advantage with 4:55 to go in the first quarter. The teams exchanged baskets to close out the quarter with U-M using a Hillmon layup to take a two-point advantage, 16-14, into the second quarter.
The Wolverines struggled to control the ball early in the second quarter, turning the ball over four times, and the Buckeyes went on a 9-0 run to take a 27-18 advantage heading into the media timeout at the 4:57 mark.
Michigan battled back within six, 32-26, due in large part to Hillmon's five points over the final 4:25 of the half. She led the Wolverines with 13 points and eight rebounds, including six offensive boards, while Dilk dished out four assists.
OSU came out of the locker room and maintained a 10-point lead for much of the third quarter before Michigan made a push to close the gap with a strong post move for Hillmon's 1,000th career point followed by a Brown three-pointer to bring Michigan within four, 46-42, with 10 minutes to play.
Brown started the fourth quarter like she ended the third, with a triple from the top of the arc off a pass from Johnson to pull Michigan within one, 46-45, of Ohio State.
The Wolverines tied the score at 47 on a Danielle Rauch pullup jumper from the right elbow, and U-M remained within four until the final three minutes of the game when OSU took an eight-point lead on some quick baskets.
Michigan responded with a Nolan a three-pointer before forcing an OSU shot clock violation. A Brown offensive rebound on a missed free throw kept the Wolverines within three with less than 30 second left, but being forced to foul, Ohio State put the game away at the free-throw line.
Michigan will learn its NCAA Tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show scheduled for Monday (March 16) at 7 p.m.
