ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 22-ranked University of Michigan women’s basketball team took a two-point lead with a minute left in regulation but No. 10 Ohio State tied it up with 12 seconds remaining and outscored the Wolverines, 14-7, in overtime as U-M fell to the Buckeyes, 78-71, on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 7) at Crisler Center. The announced crowd of 8,313 was the second-largest crowd in program history.
Senior Katelynn Flaherty hit a triple from the corner with just one minute left in regulation to erase a one-point Ohio State lead and stake Michigan a 64-62 advantage. Following a defensive stop on the other end, Flaherty saw an opening and drove but her shot fell off the rim with 20 seconds left. OSU’s Kelsey Mitchell answered with a fast-break layup to knot the score at 64. Michigan’s final possession saw Flaherty take a desperation three-pointer that just missed to send the contest to overtime.
In the extra session, Ohio State won the opening tip and got a deep three from Mitchell to beat the shot clock to take an early lead. Flaherty cashed in on a backdoor layup from sophomore Kayla Robbins on Michigan’s first possession but Ohio State ripped off a 7-1 run over the next 1:19 for a 74-67 lead. Michigan climbed back within five on a layup from junior Hallie Thome but could get no closer in the seven-point loss.
Thome led the way offensively for the Maize and Blue, going for 27 points on 12-for-20 shooting with eight boards and two blocks in 44 minutes. Flaherty had 22 points and tied her career high with eight assists, with freshman Hailey Brown going for nine points and junior Nicole Munger scoring eight. Senior Jillian Dunston grabbed a game-high 10 boards to go with four points, four assists, a steal and a block in 44 minutes.
Michigan trailed by as many as nine points in the opening quarter but held Ohio State to just six points in the second period to hit the break down just one, 30-29.
Flaherty scored on the opening possession of the third quarter to give Michigan a 31-30 lead — its first since the opening minute. Ohio State quickly regained the lead, turning a turnover into two points on the other end the next time down the floor.
Flaherty found Brown in transition for a layup, pushing Michigan back on top, 41-40, with 3:41 left in the third and force an Ohio State timeout. Out of the break, Ohio State scored five straight to regain a 45-41 lead but Flaherty scored the final four points of the third quarter to send the game to the fourth tied at 47.
In the final quarter, neither team led by more than three points as Munger canned a corner triple to once again put Michigan on top, 61-60, with 4:14 left. The teams combined for just seven more points over the last four minutes to send the game to overtime.
Michigan will complete a two-game homestand on Wednesday (Jan. 10), hosting Indiana at 7 p.m. The game is part of U-M’s yearlong “Workweek Hustle” promotion where fans can get a ticket, hot dog and drink for $5.
Release By mgoblue.com