Women’s Basketball: Wolverines Cruise Past North Florida Behind Early Run, Flaherty

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women’s basketball team used a 14-0 run in the opening quarter and never looked back in a 79-34 win over North Florida on Tuesday evening (Dec. 12) inside Crisler Center.

Senior Katelynn Flaherty found her scoring groove again, finishing with 27 points. She outscored North Florida by herself in the first half, turning in 19 points to the Ospreys’ 15. Junior Hallie Thome joined her in double figures, scoring 11 points in the second half. Michigan shot 55.4 percent (31-for-56) from the floor as 10 Wolverines found the scoring column in the game. U-M held a 47-26 advantage on the glass, paced by 15 from senior Jillian Dunston. Michigan also dished out 18 assists on the evening.

Michigan did not allow North Florida to score from the field during the first seven minutes of the game, eventually taking a 24-4 lead after the first quarter. The Ospreys scored first after splitting a pair of free throws, but Michigan answered with a 14-0 run over seven minutes before allowing UNF to score from the floor with 3:00 on the clock. Following the first field goal of the game for UNF, Michigan once again responded with a spurt, getting seven points from Flaherty and three from freshman Deja Church for the 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Wolverines continued the defense in the second quarter, keeping North Florida in single digits until the 1:56 mark of the period. Michigan hit 8-of-13 shots in the second period, getting eight points apiece from Flaherty and junior Nicole Munger. Michigan led by as many as 34 in the second, hitting the half with a 46-15 lead.

Michigan held North Florida to just eight points in the third quarter, with Thome outscoring the Ospreys herself with 10 points in the period. Michigan again relied on hot shooting in the third 10 minutes, shooting 61.0 percent (9-for-14) to hold a 64-23 lead after 30 minutes.

All 11 Wolverines saw action in the contest, with 10 finding the scoring column. Michigan led by as many as 48 in the game en route to moving to 9-2.

Michigan returns to the court on Saturday (Dec. 16), hosting Fort Wayne at Crisler Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.

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