Balanced Attack Propels No. 23 Michigan Women’s Basketball Past Indiana

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women’s basketball team got four double-figure scoring performances and went on a 5-0 run with the game tied late in the fourth quarter to grind out an 84-79 win over Indiana on Wednesday night (Jan. 10) inside Crisler Center.

After Indiana tied the game at 73 on a layup with 2:46 to go, Michigan got a free throw from junior Hallie Thome, followed by a layup from the lefty on the next possession. Junior Nicole Munger capped the run with a pair of free throws with just 1:15 to go, pushing Michigan’s lead to five (78-73). Senior Katelynn Flaherty made a driving layup with 46 seconds left and then went 4-for-4 from the line to seal the Wolverine win.

Freshman Hailey Brown poured in a career-high 23 points, shooting 10-for-12 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range to go with eight boards. Flaherty was stellar again, going for 23 points and six assists while Munger went for 16 points and seven boards. Thome recorded her fourth double-double of the season, going for 11 points and 11 boards. Michigan shot 54.5 percent (30-for-55) from the floor and weathered committing 22 turnovers by outrebounding Indiana, 38-18.

After Indiana took its first lead of the game at 7-6, Michigan answered with six straight points — four from Brown and two from Dunston — to force an IU timeout with 4:19 left in the first quarter. Freshman Deja Church banked in a 30-foot three-pointer to end the first quarter and give Michigan a 17-11 lead on the Hoosiers.

Munger hit a triple to start the second quarter for a 20-13 lead just 55 seconds into the period. After Indiana scored six straight, Munger cashed in on her second three-pointer of the quarter to push Michigan’s lead back to four, 23-19, with 6:03 on the clock.

Indiana took a 29-27 lead with 1:44 left in the second quarter, but Michigan finished the quarter on a 9-0 run, getting a jumper from Thome, a layup from Flaherty, a corner triple from Munger and a layup from Church with just four seconds left. Michigan hit the break with a 36-31 lead.

Church hit a pair at the line to push Michigan’s advantage back to three, 48-45, with 4:15 left in the third. Indiana answered with two straight buckets to regain a one-point lead before Flaherty hit two straight buckets to nudge Michigan back in front by three points.

The teams went back-and-forth over the final two minutes of the third, with Brown’s putback beating the horn to cut Indiana’s lead to one, 58-57, heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter featured four ties and six lead changes before Michigan pulled away at the end. Flaherty took over the in the final 10 minutes, scoring 10 of her 23 points.

Michigan is back on the road Saturday (Jan. 13), traveling to Nebraska to take on the Huskers at 7 p.m. CST.

 Release By mgoblue.com