Michigan
20-14,9-9Big Ten
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Kansas
20-12,11-7Big 12
Wolverines Drop Overtime Contest to Kansas
3/23/2024 6:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team saw its 2023-24 season come to a close in the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament, dropping an 81-72 overtime decision to No. 8 seed Kansas on Saturday (March 23) at the Galen Center.
Michigan took a 60-50 lead with 6:01 remaining off a layup from Chyra Evans after Cameron Williams picked up her fourth foul a minute earlier. Kansas slowly chipped away at the Wolverine lead, getting within three points, 62-59, with just under four minutes remaining. Elissa Brett answered with a triple of her own on Michigan's next possession, pushing the lead back to six.
A layup from Laila Phelia with 2:01 left gave Michigan a 67-62 lead, but the Wolverines did not score again in the rest of regulation. Kansas hit a three-pointer with just 12 seconds remaining after forcing a shot clock violation on the defensive end, tying the game at 67. Michigan could not convert on its final shot attempt, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Kansas grabbed a six-point lead with 1:31 remaining. A three-pointer from Lauren Hansen in the corner halved the Jayhawk lead to three. Michigan forced an errant shot from Kansas but could not corral the rebound as a three-point play with just under 25 ticks left put the game out of reach for the Wolverines.
Williams led the Maize and Blue with 18 points before fouling out in the extra session. Phelia turned in 16 and Hansen had 13 points in her final collegiate game. Michigan hit eight three-pointers in the contest and shot 43.8 percent from the floor, with Kansas holding a 35-32 advantage on the glass.
Both teams started slow in the first quarter as Michigan held an 11-10 lead after 10 minutes. Kansas answered with a 9-3 run to open the second quarter, taking a 19-14 lead.
Michigan uncorked an 8-0 run for a 26-24 lead on back-to-back triples from Jordan Hobbs and Brett with 3:29 left before halftime. U-M headed to the locker room with a 32-29 lead after a pair of Williams free throws in the closing seconds of the period.
U-M's lead hovered around six over the opening minutes of the third quarter, with the Jayhawks closing within two, 41-39, with 5:35 on the third-quarter clock.
Evans made a nice pass to Williams for two and then hit a corner triple, putting Michigan up 46-39 with 2:40 left in the third quarter to force a Kansas timeout. The teams went back-and-forth over the closing minutes, with a Phelia jumper in the lane sending Michigan to the fourth quarter with a 53-44 lead.
Michigan's advantage grew to double-digits in the early moments of the fourth before Kansas closed with a flurry.
U-M finishes the 2023-24 season with a 20-14 overall record, marking the 15th 20-win season in program history. This NCAA Tournament appearance was Michigan's sixth straight and 12th overall.
