In the end, the three outpaced the Wolverines’ (11-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) inside dominance on Thursday as Ohio State (9-6, 2-2) won 78-69.
Kent Schwartz
Daily Sports Writer
Women's Basketball
Sometimes, the shots just aren’t falling. Many teams can withstand rough spells if they’re at an easier point in the schedule or have favorable matchups, but the Michigan women’s basketball team was not that lucky.
Sophomore guard Amy Dilk overcame a slow start to the season, coming on strong in recent games against elite opponents No. 8 Florida State and No. 12 Maryland. Her surge is a manifestation of what coaches expected from her, and what the team needs from her in order to meet their goal of the Sweet Sixteen this year.
Shooting 92 percent wasn’t enough for Michigan women’s basketball team. Finally hitting its threes wasn’t enough. Michigan State kept fighting its way back into the game, getting on the Wolverines’ nerves.
Near the end of the third quarter, the Wolverines saw the game slipping away.
After Michigan’s first four field goals all came from right at the hoop, it was clear that its offense against Penn State would run through the paint.
After two straight losses to ranked teams, Michigan came out guns blazing on Tuesday afternoon. With quick inside points and a defense that confounded Penn State, nothing was going to stop its enthusiasm.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Michigan was right in it.
A pair of layups from sophomore and senior forwards Naz Hillmon and Kayla Robbins cut Maryland’s lead to seven, and with shots finally falling, the Wolverines looked poised to stage a comeback.
But the No. 24 Wolverines (9-2) couldn’t take this momentum into the second half, en route to a 79-69 loss to No. 8 Florida State (12-0). They couldn’t convert on the offensive end to start the third quarter, while the Seminoles fed their bigs in the paint with success. Sophomore forward Naz Hillmon and junior forward Hailey Brown both picked up two fouls in the first half, and had to play conservative defensively. Florida State had taken a five point lead before Michigan scored in the second half — over four minutes into the half.
In her three years as a starter, junior forward Hailey Brown has consistently produced solid numbers for the Michigan women’s basketball team.