Michigan
4-0,0-0Big Ten
Central Michigan
1-2,0-0MAC
Short-Handed Michigan Earns Road Win at Central Michigan
11/20/2021 3:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan had a trio of double-figure scorers in Emily Kiser (16), Danielle Rauch (13) and Laila Phelia (12).
» U-M used an 11-0 run in the middle stages of the first quarter to turn a 7-4 deficit into a 15-7 lead. U-M led by as many as 28 in the contest.
» All told, 10 different Wolverines found the scoring column in the game.
Site: Mount Pleasant, Mich. (McGuirk Arena)
Score: #13 Michigan 69, Central Michigan 45
Records: U-M (4-0), CMU (1-2)
Next U-M Event: Monday, Nov. 22 -- vs. Oakland (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team used an 11-0 run in the middle stages of the first quarter and never looked back, running to a 69-45 win over Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 20) at McGuirk Arena.
U-M had a trio of double-figure scorers in the win, as all three set new career bests. Senior Emily Kiser led the way with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, with classmate Danielle Rauch going for 13 points, four boards and an assist. Freshman Laila Phelia turned in her second double-figure scoring effort through four games, recording 12 points, six boards, two steals and assist. All told, 10 Wolverines found the scoring column in the contest as Michigan shot 41.5 percent from the floor (27-for-65). U-M held a 45-37 advantage on the glass, getting 20 second-chance points and 31 points off the bench.
After falling behind in the early going, U-M used an 11-0 run for a 15-7 lead with 3:33 remaining on the first-quarter clock. Rauch converted a three point play, with sophomore Cameron Williams, Kiser, Phelia and junior Izabel Varejão each scoring during buckets during the run.
Michigan grabbed a 19-11 lead after the first quarter following a last-possession layup from Rauch.
CMU scored the first four of the second quarter, but a Kiser triple stopped the run for a 22-15 lead at the 7:44 mark. Her triple ignited a 15-0 run over nearly five minutes that was capped by five straight points from sophomore Maddie Nolan on a deep two to beat the shot clock and a three-point play off a steal-and-score to push Michigan's lead to 34-19 at the 2:51 mark of the second quarter.
The Chippewas scored for the first time in nearly seven minutes on a layup with 1:46 remaining, but Rauch beat the buzzer with a right-wing triple to send Michigan to the break with a 37-17 lead.
Rauch hit halftime with a new career high, leading U-M with 11 points while seven other Wolverines found the scoring column.
The teams went back and forth over the opening minutes of the third quarter, with CMU calling a timeout at the 5:28 mark as Michigan's lead stayed at 20, 43-23.
CMU converted a three-point play with 2:50 left in the third quarter to trim Michigan's lead to 17, 45-28, but Phelia drew a foul and converted a pair to nudge it back to 19 points on the ensuing possession.
Phelia scored the Wolverines' final six points of the frame as U-M hit the fourth quarter with a 51-35 lead.
With Michigan's lead down to 11, sophomore Elise Stuck converted on a putback, with Kiser going on her own five-point run to push Michigan's lead back to 58-40 with 6:06 remaining. During the media timeout, the officials called off a previously good CMU basket, pushing Michigan's lead back to 20, 58-38, with 4:53 to go.
Williams scored three straight points out of the break to put the game out of reach as U-M led by as many as 28 the rest of the way.
Michigan was without seniors Naz Hillmon, Amy Dilk and Leigha Brown in the contest.
Michigan will return to Crisler Center on Monday (Nov. 22), when they host Oakland at 7 p.m.
