Michigan
5-2
NC State
7-0
Wolverines Falter Late at No. 13 North Carolina State
11/29/2018 9:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan took a 40-33 lead with 6:49 left in the third quarter, but NC State answered with a 17-4 run over the rest of the quarter to take control of the game.
» Michigan climbed back within five points three times in the closing minutes, but could not get closer as NC State held on for the 11-point win.
» No. 13 NC State marked Michigan's third ranked opponent in the last four games.
Site: Raleigh, N.C. (Kay Yow Court at James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum)
Event: ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Score: #13 North Carolina State 66, Michigan 55
Records: NC State (7-0), U-M (5-2)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Dec. 2 -- at No. 22 Marquette (Milwaukee, Wis.), 4 p.m. CST
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed within five points three times over the final 4:35 of the game but got no closer as No. 13-ranked North Carolina State knocked off the Wolverines, 66-55, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Thursday evening (Nov. 29) from Kay Yow Court at James T. Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.
Senior Nicole Munger led the way for the Maize and Blue, pouring in 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including going 4-for-6 from three-point range. Sophomore Deja Church joined her in double figures, scoring 14 points, while senior Hallie Thome chipped in seven points, eight boards and four blocks. NC State made good on 17-for-22 from the charity stripe compared to just 5-for-6 for the Maize and Blue.
In a game that featured 12 lead changes and six ties, Michigan jumped out to an early 6-2 lead on a pair of layups from Church and two free throws from Thome.
The Wolverines ended the first quarter with a 16-13 lead after a free-throw line jumper from sophomore Hailey Brown and triple from junior Akienreh Johnson on U-M's final two possessions.
NC State scored the first four points of the second quarter for a 17-16 lead, but Michigan chipped away at the lead and took a 24-20 lead after a pair of triples and a layup from Munger with 5:22 left before the half.
Munger continued her torrid scoring, making good on her fourth triple of the first half with 2:21 remaining for a 29-23 Michigan lead. After NC State scored four quick points, Church buried a triple to nudge U-M's lead back to five. The Wolfpack scored on a putback right before the halftime buzzer sounded, sending Michigan to the break with a 32-29 lead. Â
Michigan opened a 40-33 lead on a bucket in transition from freshman Amy Dilk with 6:49 left in the third quarter, but NC State answered back with seven points to get back within two points, 42-40, on a free throw with 5:21 on the third-quarter clock.
With 4:25 left, NC State converted a three-point play for a 43-42 lead with just over four minutes left in the third. Freshman Naz Hillmon scored to put Michigan back on top momentarily, but NC State ended the quarter with a 7-0 run for a 50-44 lead after three.
Church hit a triple to beat the shot clock with 5:56 left in the game to bring Michigan back within eight, 56-48, after the Wolfpack lead swelled to 11 points. Brown hit a triple with 4:04 left that closed the gap to five points, but NC State converted on the other end to push the lead back to seven.
U-M closed within five twice more, but NC State answered both times. The latter came on a jumper from Munger with 2:58 left, but back-to-back layups and a pair of free throws put the Wolverines away.
Michigan will wrap up its five-game road swing on Sunday (Dec. 2) at 4 p.m. CST, when the Wolverines travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to take on No. 22-ranked Marquette at Al McGuire Center.
