Michigan
16-13, 8-10
Illinois
15-15, 6-12
Wolverines Drop Regular-Season Finale at Illinois
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2015
Site: Champaign, Ill. (State Farm Center)
Score: Illinois 72, Michigan 60
Records: U-M (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten), Illinois (15-15, 6-12 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, March 5 -- vs. Michigan State - Big Ten Tournament (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), 11:30 a.m. CST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team fell behind in the late stages of the first half and could never catch up in a 72-60 loss to Illinois on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28) at the State Farm Center.
Senior Shannon Smith led the way for Michigan with 24 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 38 minutes of action. Junior Madison Ristovski had 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal off the bench to round out U-M's double-figure scorers.
Michigan had 24 turnovers in the contest but forced 20 Illini miscues. Michigan shot 39.6 percent (21-for-53) from the floor, compared to 50 percent (29-for-58) for the Illini. Illinois held a slight advantage on the boards, 34-31, despite a game-high 14 from U-M senior Cyesha Goree.
Facing a 12-7 deficit, Michigan ripped off a 10-1 run on five points from Ristovski, a Smith triple and a sophomore Danielle Williams putback layup to take a 17-13 lead with 11:10 left in the first half. Goree picked up her second foul at the 10:54 mark, and Illinois responded with a 14-2 run over the next 5:43 for a 27-19 lead as Michigan called timeout with 5:11 left.
Ristovski broke the scoreless streak for Michigan with a layup to beat the shot clock with 4:04 remaining in the half to bring the Wolverines back within six, 27-21. Sophomore Siera Thompson drilled her first three-pointer of the game to pull Michigan back within five, but Illinois answered with a corner triple on its ensuing trip to keep an eight-point cushion with 1:53 left.
Illinois took a 34-26 lead into the halftime break. Smith had 12 points to lead U-M, with Ristovski chipping in seven off the bench. Michigan shot just 37.0 percent (10-for-27) from the floor in the frame, compared to 48.4 percent (15-for-31) for the Illini. Michigan was plagued by turnovers in the first 20 minutes, committing 15 to Illinois' 10. The Maize and Blue held a slight 17-16 advantage on the glass, led by five rebounds from Goree.
Thompson canned a three to start the second half to bring Michigan within five points, 34-29, with 18:57 on the clock, but Illinois answered with a 9-0 run over the next 2:41 for a 43-29 lead. A pair of Illinois free throws with 11:12 remaining pushed the Illini lead to 20, 51-31.
Smith made good on an old-fashioned three-point play to bring the Wolverines within 15, 61-46, with 5:16 on the clock. Goree scored her first points of the game to trim the lead to 13, 61-48, but Illinois answered with a three-point play with 3:30 left to regain a 16-point lead.
Sophomore Paige Rakers scored five points over the closing minutes, but Illinois took the 12-point win.
U-M has locked up the No. 8 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament and will face No. 9 seed Michigan State on Thursday (March 5) at 11:30 a.m. CST. The tournament will be held at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Communications Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
