Michigan
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Iowa
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Wolverines Drop High-Scoring Affair at No. 4 Iowa
2/15/2024 11:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed within five points in the latter parts of the second quarter but a 13-0 Iowa run spanning the halftime was too much for the Wolverines to overcome in a 106-89 loss to No. 4-ranked Iowa on Thursday evening (Feb. 15) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Michigan had six double-figure scorers for just the second time in program history, with Jordan Hobbs (16), Lauren Hansen (14), Taylor Woodson (career-best 13), Chyra Evans (13), Laila Phelia (12) and Cameron Williams (10) each finishing with at least 10 points. Michigan shot 51.5 percent from the floor but made just three three-pointers in the contest, with Iowa hitting at a 53.1 percent clip with 18 three-pointers. U-M held a 35-29 advantage on the glass en route to 14 second-chance points. Â
Michigan stayed with Iowa in the early going, hitting its first three shots for a 6-5 lead in the opening two minutes, capped by a Hobbs jumper in the lane. Caitlin Clark scored the first eight points of the game for Iowa, becoming the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. She finished with 23 points in the first quarter as Iowa held a 33-22 lead after 10 minutes.
U-M chipped away at the Iowa lead throughout the second quarter, trimming what was once an 11-point lead to four, 40-36 on a Phelia layup off an Iowa turnover with 5:57 on the clock. Following an Iowa three-pointer, Evans converted on a layup to pull Michigan with five, 43-38, with 5:18 before the half.
Michigan made good on a three-point possession behind an Evans free throw and a short jumper from Elise Stuck for a 46-41 Iowa lead with just 2:42 remaining before the half.
Iowa ended the half on a 7-0 run, hitting the halftime break with a 53-41 lead, holding Michigan scoreless over the final 2:42 of the second quarter. Hobbs led the way for the Wolverines at the break, going for 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the floor. Both teams were efficient from the floor in the first half, with Iowa shooting 63.3 percent and Michigan hitting a 55.9 percent clip.
Iowa scored the first six points of the third quarter to complete the run spanning the halftime, hitting back-to-back triples for a 59-41 lead just 9:01 into the third quarter. U-M responded with a 9-1 run, kickstarted by an Evans layup. Phelia hit a pair at the line, followed by three free throws from Evans and Hansen. Phelia hit a floater in the lane at the 7:05 mark, pulling Michigan back within 10 points (60-50).
Iowa made good on a three off the back iron that stopped the Michigan run, as U-M did not get any closer in the period.
Michigan outscored the Hawkeyes, 29-25, in the final period behind 11 points from Woodson and 60.0 percent shooting from the floor.
U-M returns home to host Michigan State on Sunday (Feb. 18) in its annual Crash Crisler game. The contest is set for noon and can be seen on the Big Ten Network.
