Michigan
10-1,2-0Big Ten
Minnesota
6-6,0-2Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 11 | 22 | 9 | 19 | 61 |
| Michigan | 17 | 12 | 17 | 27 | 73 |
Wolverines Rally Past Gophers to Stay Perfect in Big Ten Play
12/12/2021 5:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan used a 15-2 run in the middle stages of the third quarter to rally from a seven-point deficit and record the win.
» U-M was led by the senior duo of Naz Hillmon (25 points, eight rebounds) and Leigha Brown (19 points, five assists). Michigan shot better than 50 percent (53.6) from the floor for the third straight game.
» The Wolverines are now 2-0 in Big Ten action, with two more non-conference games remaining before playing 16 straight conference contests.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)
Score: #13 Michigan 73, Minnesota 61
Records: U-M (10-1, 2-0 B1G), UM (6-6, 0-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Dec. 19 -- vs. Baylor - Women's Hall of Fame Showcase (Uncasville, Conn.), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team used a 15-2 run in the middle stages of the third quarter to erase a seven-point deficit en route to a 73-61 win over Minnesota on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 12) at Crisler Center.
Senior Naz Hillmon led the Wolverines on the afternoon, going for 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting with eight boards and three assists. Senior Leigha Brown poured in 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting to go with two boards and five assists. Junior Maddie Nolan hit a pair of crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with six points, as freshman Laila Phelia turned in nine points and three boards, with Emily Kiser recording six points and nine rebounds.
Michigan shot more than 50 percent from the floor for the third straight game, hitting at a 53.6 percent (30-for-56) clip from the field. U-M forced 21 Gopher turnovers, resulting in 29 points.
Michigan jumped out to the early lead, going up 14-4 midway through the first quarter after Phelia found Kiser over the top for the bucket. Minnesota slowly climbed back into the game, but Michigan took a 17-11 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.
Minnesota closed to 17-13 in the opening minute of the second quarter, but Brown beat the shot clock with an 18-foot pullup for a 19-13 advantage.
The Gophers outscored the Wolverines, 22-12, in the second quarter capped by a 30-foot triple to beat the buzzer for a 33-29 lead at the break.
Minnesota nailed a triple as the first team to score in the third quarter, pushing its lead to 36-29 with 7:34 to go in the period. Michigan took over from there, countering with a 15-2 run to take control of the contest. Phelia started the run, scoring on a baseline drive before Hillmon snagged the rebound and went coast-to-coast and Brown hit a pull-up jumper off the turnover for six straight Michigan points.
Minnesota converted a layup the next time down, but U-M scored the next nine points of the contest. Brown scored off a dish from senior Danielle Rauch on the out-of-bounds play to bring Michigan within one, with Hillmon making good on a three-point play at the 3:58 mark to push U-M back on top 40-38.
Brown once again made good on the pullup, this one coming on the right wing to force a Minnesota timeout with Michigan ahead by four, 42-38, and 3:27 left in the third. Following the timeout, Hillmon scored to cap the 15-2 run as U-M was ahead by six (44-38) with just over three minutes remaining.
Michigan carried a four-point lead into the fourth quarter, with Nolan banging the first of her triples on Michigan's first possession from Brown.
A Phelia three-point play with 6:33 to go in the contest pushed Michigan's lead to 10 for the first time since the first quarter, 60-50. Minnesota countered with a deep triple on the next possession, but Michigan scored the next nine points on another Nolan triple and layups from Phelia, Hillmon and Kiser for a 16-point lead with just 3:31 to go.
Minnesota cut the Michigan lead to eight with 1:17 to go, but Hillmon and Brown each scored on Michigan's next two possessions to record the 12-point win.
Michigan is back in action next Sunday (Dec. 19), facing Baylor in the Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. The game is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
