Michigan
5-0,0-0Big Ten
Air Force
3-2,0-0Mountain West
Wolverines Roll to 20-Point Win Over Air Force
11/25/2022 7:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ESTERO, Fla. -- Emily Kiser ran her 20-point game streak to four and the No. 22-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team held a 42-12 advantage on points scored in the paint in a 68-48 win over Air Force on Friday evening (Nov. 25) in the first round of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena.
Kiser finished with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, along with six boards and four assists. Leigha Brown turned in 13 points, three boards, two assists and a steal, with nine Wolverines finding the scoring column. Michigan out-rebounded the Falcons, 46-26, and scored 30 points off 20 Air Force turnovers.
Following a Laila Phelia putback to double up the Falcons early at 10-5, Brown hit a pair at the line with 4:43 remaining in the first quarter for a 12-5 Michigan advantage. Air Force answered with five straight as Michigan went nearly four minutes without scoring before Phelia converted on a three-point play with 50 seconds remaining to give Michigan a 15-10 lead after 10 minutes.
Kiser went on her own personal 7-0 run to start the second quarter for a 22-10 lead off a three-point play at the 5:31 mark, with the Michigan defense holding the Falcons (3-2) off the board for the first 5:41.
The Wolverines (5-0) doubled up Air Force at 28-14 off a Brown bucket in transition, but Air Force banked in a three-pointer with 1:13 left in the half to cut Michigan's lead to 11, 28-17. Phelia made a pair at the line with 1:05 remaining for a 30-17 lead before the Falcons made good on a Wolverine miscue to give Michigan a 30-19 halftime lead.
Maddie Nolan started the third with a steal-and-score, with the Michigan defense forcing a five-second violation on the ensuing possession to get the ball back. Cameron Williams scored off the out-of-bounds play, forcing an Air Force timeout with just 48 seconds elapsed in the period and the Wolverines holding a 34-19 lead.
Nolan hit a triple at the top of the key from Greta Kampschroeder and Michigan called timeout with 5:52 remaining with a 41-22 lead.
Brown found Jordan Hobbs for a left-corner triple with 1:01 remaining before Hobbs stole the ball on the next defensive play. She reciprocated and found Brown for a left-handed layup in transition, forcing an Air Force timeout with just 48 seconds remaining in the period as Michigan's lead increased to 54-30.
Michigan scored the opening bucket of the fourth to take its largest lead of the game at 56-30. All 12 Wolverines dressed saw game action, with Chyra Evans making her Michigan debut. U-M led for 37:12 of the contest, taking the lead for good with 7:09 remaining in the first quarter.
U-M will face either Georgia Tech or USF in the second round of the Gulf Coast Showcase tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 26) at 7:30 p.m.
