Wolverines to Open 2019-20 at Home With Weekend Pair

Friday, November 8

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

Western Michigan

11/5/2019 5:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: Sarah VanMetre

» No. 25-ranked Michigan opens the season with a pair of weekend games at home, hosting Western Michigan on Friday (Nov. 8) at 7 p.m. and Bradley on Sunday (Nov. 10) at 2 p.m.
» U-M welcomes back a pair of starters in junior Hailey Brown, along with sophomore Amy Dilk. Michigan also brings back its leading scorer from last season in Naz Hillmon.
» Head coach Kim Barnes Arico enters her eighth season in Ann Arbor as the winningest coach in program history (156)

PROMOTIONS
• Nov. 8: T-shirt giveaway (first 500 fans), schedule magnet and poster giveaway, face painting, postgame free throws, postgame autographs
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team opens the 2019-20 season by hosting Western Michigan on Friday (Nov. 8) at 7 p.m. and welcoming Bradley to Crisler Center on Sunday (Nov. 10) at 2 p.m.

• For the second time in the last three years, Michigan has garnered a preseason ranking from the Associated Press. U-M comes in at No. 25 with 77 points after reaching the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. In addition, the Wolverines come in at No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll with 81 points. U-M was ranked in the preseason in 2017 after capturing the 2017 WNIT title and in 2001.

• Michigan is looking to replace the program's second all-time leading scorer Hallie Thome (2,081 points) and 1,000-point scorer Nicole Munger (1,010). U-M returns five players who averaged at least 5.6 points per game in Naz Hillmon (13.1 ppg), Hailey Brown (7.8 ppg), Amy Dilk (7.2 ppg), Akienreh Johnson (5.6 ppg) and Kayla Robbins (5.6 ppg).

• Michigan is coming off a 22-12 season and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19. It marked the eighth straight 20-win campaign for the Wolverines, the longest streak in school history. U-M's 22 wins were the third most in school history and the Wolverines won 11 Big Ten games last season, finishing fourth in the Big Ten. Michigan went 10-3 over the final 13 games last season, including a seven-game win streak from Feb. 1-21.

• Michigan's roster features two seniors in Akienreh Johnson and Kayla Robbins. Robbins has played in the most games of anyone on the roster, seeing time in 101 games off the bench. Johnson played in 31 games last season, starting five times, after missing the first three games with an injury. The duo had strikingly similar stat lines last year, each averaging 5.6 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

• Western Michigan finished last season with a 10-20 record, averaging 61.8 points per game on 39.0 percent shooting. The Broncos graduated their leading scorer, Deja Wimbey (14.2 ppg), but return second-leading scorer junior Leighah-Amori Wool (12.2 ppg). Now eligible to play for Western Michigan is 5-foot-6 guard Chelayne Bailey, a graduate transfer from Syracuse. For the Orange, Bailey played 55 games totaling 40 assists, 25 rebounds and 12 steals. Michigan has won four straight against the Broncos.

• Bradley finished last season with a 20-10 record, scoring 70.8 points per contest on 39.0 percent shooting. The Braves return a pair of first team All-Valley performers including senior forward Chelsea Brackmann (12.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg) and junior guard Gabi Haack (14.9 ppg 2.3 apg). The Braves also will be returning the 2018-2019 Missouri Vvalley Conference Freshman of the Year Lasha Petree (12.6 ppg). This is the first meeting between Michigan and Bradley.