Michigan
11-1,2-0Big Ten
Baylor
9-2,0-0Big 12
U-M Takes Down Baylor in OT to Earn Program's First Win Over Top-Five Team
12/19/2021 5:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan's win over No. 5-ranked Baylor marks the Wolverines' first over a top-five opponent in program history.
» The overtime victory is Michigan's second this season.
» Leigha Brown led all players with a season-high 25 points, including six in the overtime period.
Site: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun Arena)
Event: Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase
Score: #13 Michigan 74, #5 Baylor 68 (OT)
Records: U-M (11-1), BU (9-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Dec. 31 -- vs. Ohio State (Crisler Center), Noon
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Led by a game-high 25 points from Leigha Brown, the No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team rallied for a 74-68 overtime victory over No. 5 Baylor on Sunday (Dec. 19) at Mohegan Sun Arena in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase. The victory marks the Wolverines' first in program history over a top-5 opponent and is Michigan's second win over a ranked opponent this season.
Two made Baylor free throws put the Bears up, 62-61, with 3:38 to play in the overtime period, but a bucket from Brown gave Michigan the defining lead, 63-62, just 14 seconds later. A three from junior Maddie Nolan then extended the Wolverine lead to four before Baylor answered with a three and cut Michigan's lead back to one. With just under two minutes to play, back-to-back made free throws from senior Emily Kiser swung the momentum back in Michigan's favor, where it would stay for the remainder of the contest.
Brown scored six points both the fourth quarter and extra period and was 11-for-13 for the game from the charity stripe. Senior Naz Hillmon recorded her fifth double-double of the season while battling foul trouble, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Freshman Laila Phelia rounded out Michigan's double-figure scorers with 12 points, five boards and two steals. U-M held a 50-35 advantage on the glass, led by Hillmon and seven from senior Danielle Rauch.
The Bears took a 19-16 lead after the first quarter, but Michigan tied the contest at 21 in the opening stages of the second quarter behind a Rauch triple and a Brown jumper on a baseline out-of-bounds play just 1:31 into the period.
Sophomore Cameron Williams scored four straight points off the bench and Hillmon used a crafty up-and-under move to push Michigan in front, 29-25, at the 2:52 mark of the second.
Brown converted a pair of free throws and Phelia beat the shot clock on Michigan's final possession of the first half as Michigan took a 33-29 lead into halftime behind 16 combined points from the duo. U-M outscored Baylor, 17-10, in the second 10 minutes to erase the three-point first-quarter deficit.
In the third quarter, Michigan's lead swelled to 10 points on a Hillmon three-point play and then back again on a Phelia drive with 4:25 remaining in the quarter.
Michigan held a 45-36 lead when Hillmon picked up her fourth foul at the 1:53 mark of the third quarter, with Baylor scoring the final eight points, including three free throws with 1.1 seconds left, to trim the lead to 45-43 after 30 minutes.
Hillmon fouled out with 29 seconds to play in regulation, with the score tied at 59. Michigan got several defensive stops over the final 22 seconds, eventually forcing overtime.
U-M returns home Friday (Dec. 31) to host Ohio State at Crisler Center for the Wolverines' Crash Crisler event. The Maize Out game is set for noon, and fans in attendance will receive a maize pom pom. Visit the Crash Crisler event page to buy tickets or learn more about promotions.
