Michigan to Wrap Homestand with Purdue on Big Ten Network

» No. 8 Michigan concluded a two-game homestand by hosting Purdue in the lone game between the teams this season.
» Michigan enters the game on a four-game winning streak, holding three of its last four opponents below 50 points on the defensive end.
» The Wolverines have five Indiana natives on the team in Amy Dilk, Maddie Nolan, Leigha Brown, Ari Wiggins and Emily Kiser.

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Note: Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the University of Michigan has instituted a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for indoor athletic events. Face masks continue to be required and must be worn during all home indoor athletic events. [ U-M Vaccination Policy ]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (16-2, 7-1 Big Ten) wraps up a two-game homestand Monday evening (Jan. 24) at Crisler Center, hosting Purdue (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) at 6 p.m. The contest will air live on the Big Ten Network.

Wolverine Notes

• Michigan has won four straight games after an 83-44 win over Wisconsin on Thursday (Jan. 20). U-M has relied on solid shooting and a staunch effort on the defensive end over the stretch. Michigan is averaging 75.5 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the floor and 48.4 percent shooting from three-point range over the last four games. On the flip side, U-M has held three of the last four opponents to fewer than 50 points. Over the last four, the Michigan defense is allowing just 49.3 points per game on 33.5 percent shooting from the floor while forcing 15.5 turnovers per game.

• Michigan is wrapping up a two-game homestand by welcoming Purdue to Crisler for the lone contest between the two this season. U-M is 9-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents by more than 20 points per game (78.4 ppg to 55.2 ppg). U-M has three players in double-figure scoring at home in Naz Hillmon (22.8 ppg, up from her season average of 19.5 ppg), Leigha Brown (14.7 ppg on 55.7 percent shooting) and Emily Kiser (10.9 ppg, up from her season average of 10.2 ppg).

• The game against Purdue features nine players between the two teams who earned Indiana All-Star honors during their high school careers. Michigan has a trio of 2018 All-Stars in Leigha Brown (DeKalb), Amy Dilk (Carmel), Emily Kiser (Noblesville), along with 2019 All-Star Maddie Nolan (Zionsville) and 2021 All-Star Ari Wiggins (Heritage Christian). Purdue has a quartet in Cassidy Hardin (2018, Center Grove), Madison Layden (2020, Northwestern), RaShaya Kyle (2020, Marion) and Jayla Smith (2021, Lawrence North). Dilk (2018) and Smith (2021) each won Indiana Miss Basketball honors, in addition to Purdue head coach Katie Gearlds earning the distinction in 2003.

• Michigan is off to a 16-2 start, setting a new standard through 18 games for the best start in program history. The 2012-13 squad started 15-2 through 17 games on the strength of a 10-game winning streak after a couple of early-season losses during head coach Kim Barnes Arico's first season in Ann Arbor to set the previous standard.

• Michigan is first in the Big Ten in rebounding margin at +9.2 boards per game, going 14-0 when winning the battle on the glass. U-M is second in both combined team rebounds, grabbing 39.7 caroms per contest, and in combined opponent rebounds (30.5 rpg). U-M is 2-2 this season when being outrebounded. Michigan has two of the top eight rebounders in the Big Ten in Naz Hillmon (5th, 8.6 rpg) and Emily Kiser (8th, 7.9 rpg). Hillmon is 18 boards away from passing Trish Andrew's school-record total of 928 rebounds.

• Cameron Williams is putting together a solid sophomore campaign backing up Naz Hillmon off the bench. Williams is coming off her first double-figure scoring effort, going for 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting with five rebounds against Wisconsin (Jan. 20). On the season, she is averaging 3.4 points per game on 75.8 percent shooting. Williams is also grabbing 1.7 boards in 7.8 minutes per game. She played the entire overtime session in Michigan's win over Baylor (Dec. 19), finishing with six points and five boards in 14 minutes.

• Purdue (12-6, 3-4 B1G) is coming off an 89-67 win at Illinois (Jan. 20) on the strength of hitting 15 triples in the contest. The Boilermakers are averaging 71.0 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting while allowing 66.7 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting. Purdue features four double-figure scorers in Madison Layden (13.1 ppg), Abbey Ellis (11.6 ppg), RaShaya Kyle (110.0 ppg) and Brooke Moore (10.1 ppg), with Cassidy Harden right below at 9.6 points per game.

Up Next

Thursday, Jan. 27 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 6 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)