Via ScarletKnights.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines won its seventh-straight as they handed the Rutgers women's basketball team with an 86-76 setback at the Crisler Center on Thursday night.
Rutgers dropped to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in the Big Ten. Michigan, who has not lost a game in the month of February, improved to 19-9 overall and 10-6 in league action.
Rutgers was led by graduate student guard Charise Wilson with 14 points while senior forward Stasha Carey and redshirt sophomore guard Arella Guirantes had 13 points each. Carey led RU on the boards with six boards, while redshirt junior guard Ciani Cryor captured eight assists.
The Wolverines were led by Naz Hillmon with a game-high 21 points. Nicole Munger dropped in 16 points in the win with Hallie Thome contributing 16 and Deja Church recording 11.
FIRST QUARTER
The first frame saw six lead changes and four ties.
Two turnovers by the Wolverines resulted in buckets and the lead for the Scarlet with a minute left. RU capitalized with a fast break for Tekia Mack and a made 3-pointer by Sierra Calhoun to go up 18-15.
Two free throws by Hillmon and a layup before the buzzer by Munger, however, returned the lead back to the Wolverines at 19-18.
SECOND QUARTER
A four-and-a-half-minute Scarlet Knight drought coupled with a 9-0 run by Michigan saw the Wolverines ahead 28-21 at the midway point.
Church bucket off a Rutgers turnover gave the Wolverines their largest lead at 34-26 with 3:06, however, a late 10-4 Scarlet Knight surge brought RU within two by the intermission.
After Michigan took its largest lead of the game, free throws by Mael Gilles and a Cryor 3-pointer saw Rutgers trail only 34-31 with 2:08 to go. Although Kayla Robbins and Church buckets put Michigan back up by seven, a Gilles put back and three by Wilson saw the Scarlet Knights trails 38-36 at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
After a Carey "and -1" saw Rutgers trail by three, 46-43, Michigan outscored the Scarlet Knights 6-2 over the next three minutes for a 52-45 advantage at the 4:18 mark.
RU closed the gap to within four twice, including the traditional three-point play by Calhoun that saw the Scarlet Knights trail 55-51 with 3:31 to go.
The Wolverines, however, closed the stanza outscoring Rutgers, 6-2, for a 61-53 edge heading into the game's final quarter.
The Scarlet Knights pulled within five on four occasions, but was unable to overtake the Wolverine lead.
Guirantes was able to ice a pair of free throws as Rutgers trailed 71-66 with 3:47 to go, which would be as close as the Scarlet Knights would get down the stretch.
UP NEXT
RU will return home to host Wisconsin next Monday and Minnesota next Thursday.
The Scarlet Knights will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day against the Badgers. Rutgers Athletics invites students from grades 1-12 from the State of New Jersey to participate in the NGWSD essay writing contest. All participants will receive two (2) free tickets to the Rutgers women's basketball game on February 25th against Wisconsin and invited to attend a pregame Q&A panel, participate in group experiences, receive a Rutgers t-shirt and be recognized at a timeout during the game. Click here for more information.
Also, Rutgers women's basketball will be wearing uniforms In celebration of Black History Month. Adidas unveiled a collection of NCAA uniforms inspired by the creativity, passion and expression of the early 20th century's Harlem Renaissance.
KNIGHT NOTES
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines won its seventh-straight as they handed the Rutgers women's basketball team with an 86-76 setback at the Crisler Center on Thursday night.
Rutgers dropped to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in the Big Ten. Michigan, who has not lost a game in the month of February, improved to 19-9 overall and 10-6 in league action.
Rutgers was led by graduate student guard Charise Wilson with 14 points while senior forward Stasha Carey and redshirt sophomore guard Arella Guirantes had 13 points each. Carey led RU on the boards with six boards, while redshirt junior guard Ciani Cryor captured eight assists.
The Wolverines were led by Naz Hillmon with a game-high 21 points. Nicole Munger dropped in 16 points in the win with Hallie Thome contributing 16 and Deja Church recording 11.
FIRST QUARTER
The first frame saw six lead changes and four ties.
Two turnovers by the Wolverines resulted in buckets and the lead for the Scarlet with a minute left. RU capitalized with a fast break for Tekia Mack and a made 3-pointer by Sierra Calhoun to go up 18-15.
Two free throws by Hillmon and a layup before the buzzer by Munger, however, returned the lead back to the Wolverines at 19-18.
SECOND QUARTER
A four-and-a-half-minute Scarlet Knight drought coupled with a 9-0 run by Michigan saw the Wolverines ahead 28-21 at the midway point.
Church bucket off a Rutgers turnover gave the Wolverines their largest lead at 34-26 with 3:06, however, a late 10-4 Scarlet Knight surge brought RU within two by the intermission.
After Michigan took its largest lead of the game, free throws by Mael Gilles and a Cryor 3-pointer saw Rutgers trail only 34-31 with 2:08 to go. Although Kayla Robbins and Church buckets put Michigan back up by seven, a Gilles put back and three by Wilson saw the Scarlet Knights trails 38-36 at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
After a Carey "and -1" saw Rutgers trail by three, 46-43, Michigan outscored the Scarlet Knights 6-2 over the next three minutes for a 52-45 advantage at the 4:18 mark.
RU closed the gap to within four twice, including the traditional three-point play by Calhoun that saw the Scarlet Knights trail 55-51 with 3:31 to go.
The Wolverines, however, closed the stanza outscoring Rutgers, 6-2, for a 61-53 edge heading into the game's final quarter.
The Scarlet Knights pulled within five on four occasions, but was unable to overtake the Wolverine lead.
Guirantes was able to ice a pair of free throws as Rutgers trailed 71-66 with 3:47 to go, which would be as close as the Scarlet Knights would get down the stretch.
UP NEXT
RU will return home to host Wisconsin next Monday and Minnesota next Thursday.
The Scarlet Knights will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day against the Badgers. Rutgers Athletics invites students from grades 1-12 from the State of New Jersey to participate in the NGWSD essay writing contest. All participants will receive two (2) free tickets to the Rutgers women's basketball game on February 25th against Wisconsin and invited to attend a pregame Q&A panel, participate in group experiences, receive a Rutgers t-shirt and be recognized at a timeout during the game. Click here for more information.
Also, Rutgers women's basketball will be wearing uniforms In celebration of Black History Month. Adidas unveiled a collection of NCAA uniforms inspired by the creativity, passion and expression of the early 20th century's Harlem Renaissance.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Assistant coach Tim Eatman served as acting head coach as Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer remained in New Jersey under the weather.
- Senior forward Caitlin Jenkins has been dismissed from the team.
- Michigan is the first team this season Rutgers has allowed to score over its average. The Wolverines entered the game averaging 72.7 points per game and scored 86. Michigan has only scored more (90) against Iowa this season in Big Ten play.
- Michigan's 23 points off turnovers were a high by a Rutgers opponent this season.
