Michigan
9-1,1-0Big Ten
Wisconsin
2-8,0-2Big Ten
Michigan Jumps Out to Early Lead, Downs Wisconsin to Begin Big Ten Play
12/9/2021 11:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan raced out to an early lead and led by as many as 20 points in a 93-81 win over Wisconsin to open Big Ten play.
» U-M had five double-figure scorers in Naz Hillmon (21), Danielle Rauch (18), Emily Kiser (17), Leigha Brown (13) and Maddie Nolan (11).
» The Wolverines topped the 90-point mark for the second consecutive game and did not have a turnover in the second half.
Site: Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)
Score: #13 Michigan 93, Wisconsin 81
Records: U-M (9-1, 1-0 B1G), UW (2-8, 0-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Dec. 12 -- vs. Minnesota (Crisler Center), 2 p.m.
MADION, Wis. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team had five players score in double figures and led by as many as 20 points in a 93-81 win over Wisconsin on Thursday night (Dec. 9) at the Kohl Center.
Senior Naz Hillmon paced the Wolverine offense with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, with classmate Danielle Rauch scoring a career-best 18 points with two boards and three assists. Fellow senior Emily Kiser went for 17 points and eight boards, with Leigha Brown (12) and Maddie Nolan (11) rounding out Michigan's double-figure scorers.
U-M shot 52.2 percent (35-for-67) from the field and 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from three-point range, while only turning the ball over seven times. Michigan scored at least 20 points in all four quarters en route to winning its Big Ten opener.
Michigan raced out to an early 5-0 lead on a pull-up from Brown and a left-wing triple from Rauch. The Wolverines pushed their lead to double figures for the first time, 15-5, on a lefty bank shot from Kiser with 4:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Michigan took a 22-13 lead after 10 minutes as Brown hit a triple at the top of the key right before the buzzer.
The Wolverines forced Wisconsin to call a timeout at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter after junior Izabel Varejao scored and drew the foul. She missed the ensuing free throw, but Hillmon grabbed the offensive rebound and found Nolan for a triple, pushing Michigan's lead to 31-15.
Michigan weathered some foul trouble in the later stages of the second quarter, hitting the break with a 43-31 lead behind 11 points from Kiser and nine each from Hillmon and Brown.
Wisconsin scored the first four points out of the half, forcing a Michigan timeout with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter and its lead at 48-35.
Out of the timeout, Rauch hit a triple and Brown made a turnaround jumper for a quick five Wolverine points and a 48-35 advantage with 6:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Nolan nailed a corner triple from Hillmon to force a Wisconsin timeout with 3:55 on the third-quarter clock as Michigan's lead ballooned back to 15, 60-45.
Varejao converted a three-point play with five seconds remaining in the third for Michigan's largest lead of the night to that point, 71-52, to send U-M to the final period with a 19-point lead.
Nolan found Kiser in transition for a layup, pushing Michigan's lead to 20, 78-58, and again forcing a Badger timeout with 7:39 remaining.
Wisconsin scored eight of the next 10 points to trim Michigan's lead to 14, 80-66, but Rauch made a free throw at the 4:55 mark to stop the run.
The Badgers outscored Michigan 29-22 in the final period, but Michigan was able to get the double-figure win by making free throws in the final minute.
U-M returns home Sunday (Dec. 12) to host Minnesota at Crisler Center. The game is set for 2 p.m., with the first 1,000 fans in attendance receiving a Michigan holiday ornament.
