Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan to Hit the Road for Rivalry Game at Ohio State
1/19/2021 3:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan moved up to No. 11 in this week's Associated Press poll, its highest ranking in program history.
» Michigan and Ohio State will meet for the first time this season before squaring off again in Ann Arbor on Feb. 21. It is the first time since the 2017-18 season that the rivals are scheduled to play a home-and-home series.
» The game features the top two field-goal percentage defenses in the conference, with Ohio State (.347) just ahead of Michigan (.349).
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Jan. 21 -- at No. 17 Ohio State (Columnbus, Ohio), 3 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Audio
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (10-0, 5-0 Big Ten) travels to Columbus to face No. 17-ranked Ohio State (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 21) in the first of two games scheduled between the rivals this season. The game is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
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 moved up to No. 11 in this week's Associated Press poll (Jan. 18) with 443 points, the highest AP ranking in program history. The previous high was No. 12, which happened Dec. 24, 2001 -- before freshmen Elise Stuck and Meghan Fiso were even born. The No. 11 ranking also is the highest team ranking for a Kim Barnes Arico-coached team. KBA coached the Wolverines when they were ranked No. 13 in 2018 and also was at St. John's when the Red Storm was ranked No. 13 on March 5, 2012. U-M also came in at No. 11 in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll.
• Michigan allowed a season-low 40 points to Wisconsin in its 29-point win in Madison last Thursday (Jan. 14). It also was the fewest surrendered by the Wolverines in a regular-season conference game since a 74-40 win against Minnesota on Feb. 7, 2010. Michigan leads the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage defense (.230), while ranking second in field-goal percentage defense (.349) and third in scoring defense (58.0 ppg).
• Michigan and Ohio State have played some close games since the 2009-10 season. Only two of the last 19 games between Ohio State and Michigan have had a margin larger than 11: a 64-49 U-M win in Columbus on Jan. 5, 2014, and a 64-51 Michigan win at Crisler on Dec. 30, 2010. The last nine games between the rivals have each been decided by single digits and by a total of 58 points (6.4 points per game). Michigan has four wins over Ohio State since Kim Barnes Arico took over in 2012-13, accounting for 30 percent of U-M's 13 all-time wins against the Buckeyes.
• Thursday's game will mark the return to their home state for Akienreh Johnson (Toledo) and Naz Hillmon (Cleveland). In addition to playing at Ohio State during their time as Wolverines, both players played on high school teams that reached the state championship game held at Value City Arena. Hillmon led Gilmour Academy to the 2017 state championship, while Johnson's Toledo Rogers squad made the 2015 state championship game. Thursday's game is the only one on the 2020-21 schedule to be played in Ohio.
• No. 17 Ohio State (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) is coming off its first loss of the season, dropping a 63-55 contest at Nebraska on Saturday (Dec. 16). OSU is averaging 85.5 points per game on 47.0 percent shooting while allowing 61.4 points per contest on 34.7 percent shooting. The Buckeyes feature a quintet of double-figure scorers in Jacy Sheldon (17.4 ppg), Dorka Juhasz (16.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg), Madison Greene (13.9 ppg), Aaliyah Patty (11.9 ppg) and Braxtin Miller (10.7 ppg). OSU took both games against Michigan last season, coming in Columbus and at the Big Ten Tournament.
• Michigan is off to a 5-0 Big Ten start for the first time in program history, with the previous best coming at 4-0 during the 2012-13 season. Michigan and Maryland are the two remaining unbeaten teams in conference play.
