INDIANAPOLIS — With six minutes remaining in the first quarter, sophomore forward Naz Hillmon walked to the bench after picking up her second foul.
Brendan Roose
Daily Sports Writer
Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan, up by four, faced a turning point. After a huge third quarter that turned a 10-point deficit into a six-point lead, Nebraska hit a pair of free throws to start the fourth quarter. The Wolverines needed an answer to hold onto the momentum.
Coming out of halftime, those last three possessions of the first half had energized the Wolverines (20-10 overall, 10-8 Big Ten). They scored the first eight points of the second half and never looked back, en route to a 81-75 win over Nebraska (17-13, 7-11) in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
In Indianapolis, revenge is on the table for the Michigan women’s basketball team.
With Naz Hillmon on the floor and effective, the Michigan women’s basketball team has the ability to be one of the best offensive teams in the Big Ten.
Amy Dilk stood at the top of the 3-point arc one minute into the second half and surveyed her options.
A minor scoring drought can quickly turn into a disaster or cost a team the game if the defense can’t get stops. And although Michigan State did score 13 points during that drought, the Wolverines’ defense made enough key plays to still emerge ahead at the end of it.
Standing at the podium in front of TV cameras and a gaggle of reporters, Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant stared emptily into the background. Her team just lost to Michigan, getting swept for the first time since 2015, and Merchant was looking for an answer.
With Brown on the floor, Michigan State’s offense struggled to get into a rhythm. It was no coincidence that the Spartans’ two highest scoring quarters were the two that Brown only played three minutes in. Brown’s impact this season has gone unnoticed at times. But despite what the box score or Merchant said on Sunday, her role in the Wolverines’ win — both on the court and from the bench — was unquestionable.