Michigan
Purdue Fort Wayne
Wolverines to Welcome Purdue Fort Wayne to Start 2023-24 Season
11/3/2023 3:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Promotions
• Pit Viper Michigan Sunglasses to the first 150 Michigan students -- MCard required
New this year, purchases on the day of the game at the venue will be cashless and contactless in an effort to contribute to a safer game day environment and improve the fan experience by increasing the speed of service and decreasing wait times. Purchases may be made with debit or credit cards. Cash will not be accepted.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team (0-0) kicks off the 2023-24 season by hosting Purdue Fort Wayne (0-0) on Monday (Nov. 6) 7 p.m. at Crisler Center. It is the first of two straight contests at Crisler Center to start the new season for U-M.
Notes
• Michigan kicks off the 2023-24 regular season by hosting Purdue Fort Wayne, marking the second-ever contest between the teams. U-M recorded a 77-45 win over the Mastodons on Dec. 16, 2017 in the previous meeting.
• U-M has won nine straight season openers and is 10-1 under J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Women's Basketball Coach Kim Barnes Arico in the first game of the season. This marks the 10th straight season that the Maize and Blue has opened the season at home.
• The Wolverines picked up a 95-41 win over Saginaw Valley State in their lone exhibition contest on Thursday (Nov. 2), led by a trio of double-figure scorers in Laila Phelia (23), Cameron Williams (16) and Lauren Hansen (10). All 11 Wolverines who saw the floor found the scoring column.
• The Wolverines come in at No. 25 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll with 75 points. U-M is tied with Miami for the final spot in the poll.
• Michigan was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten by the media, with Phelia unanimously named to the preseason All-Big Ten team. She also was named to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award watch list this preseason.
• U-M will play 12 non-conference contests, with six at Crisler Center and six away from Ann Arbor. U-M will participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and again in the Jumpman Invitational against Florida on Dec. 20 in Charlotte.
• U-M brings back a pair of regular starters in Cameron Williams and Phelia, with Greta Kampschroeder, Jordan Hobbs and Elise Stuck each earning starts during their time in Ann Arbor.
• The Wolverines brought in three graduate transfers in the offseason in Elissa Brett (Bowling Green), Lauren Hansen (Missouri) and Taylor Williams (Western Michigan). All three have eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for their career.
• Michigan has three familiar faces on the sidelines serving as assistant coaches this season. Harry Rafferty is in his third season as an assistant, with Melanie Moore returning to the sidelines at U-M after spending four seasons as the head coach at Xavier. Wolverine great Jillian Dunston is in her first season as an assistant coach, starting her coaching career with stops at Florida State and Drexel before returning to Ann Arbor.
• The Wolverines added WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Ariel Atkins to the staff as the assistant coach for player development. Amy Mulligan is in her 12th season as the director of operations and Emily Herard, who was the director of player personnel and recruiting last year, has moved over into the video coordinator role in her second year.
• U-M will have an eight-day layoff before hosting Oakland on Nov. 14 at Crisler.
