Michigan
Ohio State
Wolverines to Head to Ohio State for Ranked Rivalry Showdown
1/25/2022 3:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» No. 7 Michigan hits the road to complete the season series with No. 22 Ohio State after a 90-71 Michigan win in Ann Arbor (Dec. 31).
» Naz Hillmon is six rebounds away from passing Trish Andrew's all-time mark of 928 boards, entering the contest with 923 career rebounds.
» Ohio State is Michigan's sixth ranked opponent of the season, going 4-1 in the other five contests.
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Jan. 27 -- at #22 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (17-2, 8-1 Big Ten) hits the road for a ranked rivalry contest, heading to No. 22 Ohio State (15-3, 7-2 Big Ten) for a Thursday evening (Jan. 27) contest. The game, originally set for 6 p.m., is now slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen on Big Ten Network.
Wolverine Notes
• Michigan has won five straight games after a 79-66 win over Purdue on Monday night (Jan. 24). U-M has relied on solid shooting and a staunch effort on the defensive end over the stretch. Michigan is averaging 76.2 points per game on 49.6 percent shooting from the floor and 43.6 percent shooting from three-point range over the last four games. On the flip side, U-M has held three of its last five opponents to fewer than 50 points. Over the spurt, the Michigan defense is allowing just 52.6 points per game on 34.6 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing 14.2 turnovers per game.
• Senior Naz Hillmon is on the verge of becoming the program's leader in rebounding, entering the contest just six away from passing the all-time mark. Trish Andrew has been the program leader since 1993, grabbing 928 rebounds in her 113 career games. Hillmon has 923 boards through her 106 games played for an 8.7 per game average. She is 16th in career rebounds among active Division I players.
• Michigan is off to a 17-2 start, setting a new standard through 19 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. U-M has already topped last year's win total of 16 after playing just 22 total games.
• Michigan has a trio of Ohio natives returning to their home state for the first time this season in Naz Hillmon (Cleveland), Laila Phelia (Cincinnati) and Jordan Hobbs (Springboro). Hillmon (2017, Gilmour Academy) and Phelia (2019, Mount Notre Dame Academy) each won state titles at Value City Arena.
• Michigan hit the halfway point of its 18-game Big Ten schedule last time out in a 79-66 win over Purdue (Jan. 24). U-M is 8-1 at the midway point of the conference season as one of just two teams (Ohio State) to have played nine games. Michigan has won five straight conference games, tying for the fourth-longest streak in school history. U-M's 8-1 league record is the best through nine games in program history.
• Ohio State is the second team Michigan has faced for a second time this season after U-M swept the season series from Wisconsin. Michigan recorded a 90-71 win earlier this season against Ohio State at Crisler (Dec. 31), getting double-doubles from Naz Hillmon (29 points, 12 boards) and Emily Kiser (18 points, 15 boards) to go with 24 points from Leigha Brown. Michigan has won two straight against the Buckeyes and is looking for its first win in Columbus since an 84-75 win on Jan. 16, 2018.
• Naz Hillmon recorded her second 30-point game of the season and seventh in her career the last time out, going for 32 points on 12-for-14 shooting against Purdue (Jan. 24). Her total of seven ranks third in program history behind Katelynn Flaherty (13) and Diane Dietz (10). Hillmon and Dietz recorded all 17 of their 30-point contests between them without making a three-pointer.
• No. 22 Ohio State (15-3, 7-2 B1G) has ripped off six straight wins since the last time the teams met, a 90-71 U-M win at Crisler to wrap up 2021. Ohio State is averaging 84.1 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting while allowing 66.4 points per game on 41.0 percent shooting. OSU has a trio of double-figure scorers in Jacy Sheldon (21.3 ppg), Taylor Mikesell (19.6 ppg) and Rebeka Mikulasikova (10.5 ppg).
Up Next
• Sunday, Jan. 30 -- vs. No. 6 Indiana (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
