Site:Â Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)
Score:Â Michigan 79, Western Michigan 42
Records:Â U-M (2-0), WMU (1-2)
Next U-M Event:Â Monday, Nov. 19 — vs. Detroit Mercy (Crisler Center), 7 p.m.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The University of Michigan women’s basketball team used a stout defensive effort and four double-figure scorers to knock off Western Michigan, 79-42, on Thursday evening (Nov. 15) at University Arena.
Freshman Naz Hillmon turned in a career-high 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the floor. Senior Hallie Thome scored 14 points and pushed her career total to 1,718, which moved her into third place on Michigan’s all-time scoring list, behind Diane Dietz (2,076) and Katelynn Flaherty (2,776). Junior Kayla Robbins battled back from foul trouble in the first half to finish with a career-high 13 points, while freshman Amy Dilk recorded her first double-figure scoring game, turning in 11 points.
Michigan shot 50 percent (29-for-58) while holding Western to just 26.8 percent (15-for-56) overall abd just 11.8 percent (4-for-34) from three-point range. Michigan also grabbed 60 rebounds in the game to WMU’s 20.
Michigan went inside early and often in the first quarter, getting eight points from Thome over the first four minutes to jump out to a 12-5 lead with 5:56 on the first-quarter clock. U-M’s lead grew to double-figures in the final minute of the quarter on a bucket from Hillmon and free throw from Dilk, pushing Michigan’s lead to 11 points, 22-11, after the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter belonged to the U-M defense and Hillmon. Michigan held the Broncos to just six points and two made field goals in the frame, its second time in as many regular-season games that they have held an opponent under 10 points in a period. Hillmon poured in 11 points in the quarter, helping Michigan to a 38-17 lead at the break. Michigan shot 50.0 percent (15-for-30) in the first half, compared to the Broncos’ 17.9 percent (5-for-28). U-M also out-rebounded WMU, 31-11, over the first 20 minutes.
U-M continued to ratchet up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, as Western Michigan scored just eight points and U-M ended the frame on a 21-4 run for a 65-25 lead. Seven Wolverines scored in the frame, with Dilk going for seven, Thome for six and sophomore Hailey Brown for five.
The Wolverines emptied the bench in the fourth quarter, and among the fourth-quarter highlights were a corner triple from sophomore Priscilla Smeenge and a free throw from senior Samantha Trammel to account for their first points of the season.
Michigan will return to Crisler Center Monday (Nov. 19), when it hosts Detroit Mercy at 7 p.m. Fans can gain free admission to Monday night’s game with their football ticket from Saturday’s (Nov. 17) game against Indiana.
