Michigan
16-3,6-2Big Ten
Rutgers
8-12,2-6Big Ten
Wolverines Roll to First-Ever Win at Rutgers
1/19/2023 11:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team never trailed, leading by as many as 26 points in an 81-58 win over Rutgers on Thursday evening (Jan. 19) at Jersey Mike's Arena. It was Michigan's first win at Rutgers, with the Wolverines holding their third straight opponent to under 60 points.
Michigan had a trio of double-figure scorers, led by Emily Kiser's 25 points, four boards and an assist. Laila Phelia went for 23 points, six rebounds and two steals, with Leigha Brown recording her second point-assist double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Michigan shot an even 50 percent from the floor, hitting 29-of-58 shots and holding Rutgers to a 37.5 percent (21-for-56) mark.
Michigan jumped out to an early 4-0 lead but the team eventually found themselves tied up at 8 at the first-quarter media timeout with 4:41 to go in the first quarter.
Michigan scored six of the final eight points of the quarter, getting a layup from Brown and four points from Kiser for an 18-14 lead after 10 minutes of action.
U-M used an early timeout in the second quarter as Rutgers closed the Michigan lead to 21-18 with 8:08 remaining. The Wolverines embarked on an 8-0 spurt out of the break, getting a layup and triple from Kiser, followed by a layup from Phelia as Rutgers was forced to call timeout with 4:59 remaining with Michigan's lead at 28-18.
Michigan led by as many as 13 points in the first half off a Brown three-point play, eventually hitting the break with a 41-30 lead.
U-M opened the third quarter with a 6-0 spurt over the first 90 seconds, forcing a Rutgers timeout with 8:27 remaining. Phelia made good on a layup, followed by a Brown 17-foot pullup and a Cameron Williams layup for a 47-30 Michigan lead.
Michigan did not let up from there, with the Maize and Blue using a 10-0 run over 2:10 for a 57-34 advantage off a Kiser layup with 4:18 left in the third. The run was ignited by a Phelia three-point play, with Brown hitting a triple and Kiser accounting for the other six points.
U-M led by as many as 23 in the third quarter, taking a 68-47 lead into the final stanza.
The Michigan advantage never dipped below 20 the rest of the way as U-M outscored Rutgers 13-11 in the period. Eleven Wolverines saw the court, with nine finding the scoring column after freshmen Alyssa Crockett and Kate Clarke each scored in the final quarter.
Michigan returns to Crisler Center on Monday (Jan. 23) to host No. 6-ranked Indiana at 8 p.m. The game can be seen live on Big Ten Network.
