Michigan
9-1,1-0Big Ten
Toledo
7-2,0-0MAC
Wolverines Rally Back, Fall Against Toledo In Final Seconds
12/8/2022 10:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team grabbed a one-point lead with 20 seconds remaining after being down by as many as 13 points, but Toledo scored the final four points of the contest to escape with a 71-68 win over the Wolverines on Thursday evening (Dec. 8) at Crisler Center.
Leigha Brown hit a turnaround jumper from Emily Kiser to push Michigan ahead by one point with 20 ticks remaining. After Toledo called timeout to advance the ball, it went out of bounds off Michigan with 16 seconds left. The officials reviewed the play, keeping the ball with Toledo. The Rockets scored three seconds later to regain a one-point lead.
Michigan ran the same action as the previous play, but Brown's shot came up just short. Kiser was called for a foul as the teams scrambled for the rebound, sending Toledo to the line with 3.3 seconds on the clock. UT's Sammi Mikonowicz hit both at the line and Laila Phelia's desperation three came up short as Toledo held on to win.
Phelia paced the Maize and Blue on the evening, finishing with 20 points, eight boards and four steals. Kiser chipped in 15 points and eight boards, with Brown going for eight and Chyra Evans scoring a career-best six off the bench. Michigan shot just 40.3 percent (25-for-62) from the field, while Toledo hit at a 50 percent (26-for-52) clip.
Michigan jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind buckets from Brown and Cameron Williams, but Toledo countered with a 10-2 run to force a Michigan timeout at the 5:44 mark. UT led by nine, 22-13, after the first 10 minutes of action.
The Rockets' lead grew to as many as 12 points in the second period, but Michigan was able to claw back within five off a pair of Williams free throws with 2:55 remaining. U-M hit the half down 11, 42-31, after Toledo scored on its final possession of the half.
Michigan slowly chipped away at the Toledo lead in the third quarter, getting within four at 46-42 with 3:24 to go behind a Greta Kampschroeder triple. U-M forced the miss on the other end but turned it over in the backcourt, with Toledo nailing a triple to grab a seven-point lead en route to a 53-46 lead after 30 minutes.
The Wolverines eventually tied the game at 64 off a layup from Evans with 2:22 remaining. Michigan grabbed its first lead since the opening minute behind a Phelia backdoor layup with 1:41 to go. Toledo countered by cashing in on a three-point play for a one-point lead with 1:23 to go. Both teams exchanged empty possessions to set up the final exchange.
U-M will take nine days off for exams before hosting Appalachian State at Crisler on Saturday, Dec. 17. Game time is set for noon, and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
