Michigan
12-6,3-4Big Ten
Nebraska
14-4,4-3Big Ten
Wolverines Drop Road Contest at Nebraska
1/19/2020 8:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Hailey Brown hit back-to-back triples to bring Michigan back within two points, 73-71, with 8.8 seconds left. Nebraska split a pair of free throws, but Michigan could not get a final shot to fall, resulting in the three-point margin.
» U-M had three players in double figures in Hailey Brown (17), Naz Hillmon (15) and Akienreh Johnson (11).
» U-M has the week off before it hosts Rutgers at Crisler Center next Sunday (Jan. 25) at 2 p.m.
Site: Lincoln, Neb. (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Score: Nebraska 74, Michigan 71
Records: U-M (12-6, 3-4 B1G), Nebraska (13-4, 4-3 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 19 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 4 p.m. CST
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team got within two points with 8.8 seconds remaining off back-to-back triples from junior Hailey Brown but could not get a final shot to fall in a 74-71 loss to Nebraska on Sunday (Jan. 19) at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Brown led the way for Michigan, hitting five of six from beyond the arc for 17 points, with sophomore Naz Hillmon chipping in 15 points and six boards. Senior Akienreh Johnson went for 13 points and eight boards, along with sophomore Amy Dilk going for nine points, six boards and four assists. Michigan held a 36-30 advantage on the glass, but Nebraska got to the line 24 times, accounting for 20 points.
After a back-and-forth first quarter, freshman Maddie Nolan hit a triple from Hillmon in the left corner after entering the game for the final possession. The three-pointer gave Michigan a 19-16 lead after 10 minutes.
Johnson hit a triple at the top of the key on Michigan's first possession to push the lead to six, 22-16, just 51 seconds into the frame.
Freshman Izabel Varejão scored six straight points in her own run over 1:36 of game time as U-M's lead grew to nine, 28-19.
Nebraska slowly chipped away, beating the shot clock on several trips with triples to climb back within two, 30-28, with 5:07 left before the half.
Michigan hit the half with a 34-28 lead, scoring the final four points of the second quarter behind buckets from Hillmon and Dilk. Neither team scored over the final 3:03 to keep Michigan's six-point lead intact.
U-M scored seven straight points to start the third behind a Brown triple, Johnson layup and a Hillmon steal-and-score to put the Wolverines up by 13, 41-28, with 8:18 to go in the third.
The Huskers countered with a 12-2 run, getting within 43-40 before a Hillmon free throw stopped the run with 2:15 left in the quarter.
Michigan took a 49-48 lead after three quarters as Nebraska hit a triple to beat the third-quarter clock.
The Huskers regained the lead for the first time since the first quarter on a triple to open the fourth quarter, followed by a pair of free throws for a 53-49 lead with 8:46 to go.
Brown canned a triple for a 56-55 lead, but Nebraska came back with an 8-2 run for a 63-58 lead, forcing a Michigan timeout with 4:41 to go. Hillmon scored on the possession to cut the Nebraska lead to three, 63-60, on the ensuing possession.
Michigan faced a 67-60 deficit with 2:54 to go, but sophomore Danielle Rauch came down and drained a triple to pull U-M within four on the ensuing possession. Following a Michigan defensive stop, its lefty layup just fell off the rim to keep the Husker lead at four with 1:44 on the clock.
Nebraska answered with a triple, but Brown hit back-to-back triples to bring Michigan back with 8.8 seconds left. Nebraska split a pair of free throws with 8.8 left, giving Michigan the opportunity for one more chance while facing a three-point deficit. Sophomore Emily Kiser's three-point attempt missed, with Nolan grabbing the board and racing out to the three-point line. Her desperation heave was long, sealing the three-point Nebraska win.
Michigan has the week off before returning to Crisler Center Sunday (Jan. 26) to host Rutgers at 2 p.m.
