Michigan
16-9,7-6Big Ten
Rutgers
7-19,1-12Big Ten
Michigan Opens Strong, Cruises Past Rutgers at Crisler
2/10/2024 4:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team got back in the win column with a dominant showing over Rutgers on Saturday (Feb. 10), scoring 20-plus points in all four quarters to record an 86-58 victory at Crisler Center. It was Michigan's Pink game, with breast cancer survivors and thrivers honored at halftime.
Cameron Williams led the Wolverines' scoring efforts with a career-best 23 points, shooting an efficient 10-for-14 from the field while adding three rebounds and three assists. Jordan Hobbs (16), Lauren Hansen (12) and Chyra Evans (11) joined Williams in double-figure scoring. Michigan dished out a season-best 25 assists on 34 made field goals, led by eight from Hobbs and four from Evans. Michigan shot 61.8 percent (34-for-55) from the floor in the contest, hitting 12 three-pointers on 57.1 percent shooting.
The Maize and Blue (16-9, 7-6 Big Ten) took the momentum from the opening tip and did not look back, going on an 11-2 scoring run to start and forced a Rutgers timeout with 4:08 left on the first-quarter clock. The Scarlet Knights (7-19, 1-12 Big Ten) made just one of their first nine shots as the defense set the tone early. Three straight makes from beyond the arc continued the offensive surge for Michigan following the break, ultimately pushing the lead out to 20-6 after the first frame of action.
Though Rutgers tried to turn the tide back in its favor to start the second quarter, the Wolverines kept a firm hold on the lead thanks to a dominant presence in the paint, scoring 14 of their 25 total points in the quarter from inside the key. Williams made her presence felt against the Scarlet Knights' interior, leading the Maize and Blue's scoring efforts with nine points on a perfect four-for-four shooting including an and-one conversion. Michigan hit the half with a 45-16 lead, holding Rutgers to just seven made field goals in the opening 20 minutes.
A back-and-forth third quarter was not enough for Rutgers, as Michigan held a 30-plus point lead steadily through much of the frame. Williams and Elissa Brett combined for 11 of the Wolverines' 21 total points in the quarter, while Brett added a pair of rebounds in nine minutes played. With the lead firmly in hand, Hobbs closed out U-M's day with a bang -- scoring eight points in the final 10 minutes to cap off an 86-58 final score.
Michigan next travels to Iowa City to face off against No. 2-ranked Iowa on Thursday (Feb. 15) at 7 p.m. CST, with the game to be streamed live on Peacock.
