To say that this was a much needed win for the Wolverines is an understatement. Michigan needed this win after losing to both Purdue and Rutgers the last two games. Michigan was able to get it done against the Wildcats 84-63.
Northwestern was able to keep the game close but in the end, they just could not keep up with the Michigan Wolverines. “Michigan has some great players and I felt we did not do a good job for the entire game,” said head coach Joe Mckeown.
Northwestern has struggled this season but kept up with Michigan the entire game. “We were able to bounce back. They were able to make some shots, and they made you pay with the openings that you gave them throughout the game,” Mckeown commented.
Freshman Jordan Hamilton had 24 points, was 7 for 12 from field goal range, and was 4 for 6 from three point range. She was also a perfect 3 for 3 from the free throw line and had 7 assists. Lindsey Pulliam had 13 points and was 3 for 4 from the free throw line.
For Michigan, it was a much needed win after losses to both Purdue and Rutgers last week. It was a performance to remember for Katelynn Flaherty and Hallie Thome. They combined to score 61 points on the night. Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico credited her team to allow Flaherty and Thome to have that type of performance. “They can’t have those performances without their teammates getting good screens and recognized where they were. That’s where we really took steps tonight by finding them and getting them touches when they were open,” Arico said.
Hallie Thome had 25 points in the game along with 5 rebounds and was 8 for 9 from the free throw line. She also shot her first three pointer of her career. “Hallie has just a tredmondus touch. She is really a good shooter. Every time I talk with Hallie’s Grandpa, he always tells me how many three’s she should be taking. Every time we are at practice taking part in shooting drills and she is at the three point line, I always say, ‘Can you make these so we can make Grandpa proud’? It’s a shot that she can make. We needed it tonight and she was confident enough to take it,” Arico commented.
Katelynn Flaherty finished the night with 36 points where she was 12 for 21 from field goal range, 9 for 16 from the free throw line, and was a perfect 3 for 3 from the free throw line. Jillian Dunston had 7 points and 12 rebounds. Nicole Munger had 9 points and was 4 for 5 from field goal range.
The next game for the Wolverines is a showdown in East Lansing against the Spartans on Sunday. The game will be at 12 noon and will be on ESPN2.