Michigan
11-4,2-1Big Ten
Indiana
12-1,3-0Big Ten
Fast Start Propels No. 14 Indiana Past Michigan
1/4/2024 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- No. 14-ranked Indiana hit all 15 shots it took from the field in the first quarter to build a sizable first-quarter lead en route to an 80-59 win over the University of Michigan women's basketball team on Thursday evening (Jan. 4) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Michigan (11-4, 2-1 Big Ten) was led by Laila Phelia's 23 points, with Lauren Hansen going for nine and Cameron Williams scoring seven off the bench. U-M only turned the ball over 10 times but was whistled for 24 fouls, leading to 29 Hoosiers free-throw attempts. After the first-quarter barrage, Michigan held Indiana (12-1, 3-0 Big Ten) to 11 of its next 30 but was unable to close the gap.
Indiana jumped out to an 8-2 lead, hitting its first three shots and a pair of free throws before Hansen hit a long two to halve the IU lead with 7:49 left in the first quarter. The Hoosiers' hot start continued as they made back-to-back triples for a 14-4 lead, forcing a U-M timeout with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
Indiana did not miss a shot from the floor in the first quarter, taking a 36-17 lead after 10 minutes of action. The Hoosiers' first miss came with 7:58 on the second-quarter clock. Michigan tried to climb back over stretches of the second quarter, but the Hoosiers got in the bonus with more than five minutes remaining, continuing to score at the free-throw line.
Michigan held a 17-15 advantage in the second quarter, as IU held a 51-34 lead at the intermission. Indiana shot 17-for-21 (81 percent) from the floor in the first 20 minutes while holding an 18-8 advantage on free-throw attempts.
Indiana opened the third quarter on an 11-2 run to stifle any Michigan momentum out of the halftime break. Michigan scored six of the final eight points of the third quarter but still faced a 68-48 deficit after 30 minutes.
IU led by as many as 26 in the contest and handed Michigan its first conference loss of the season.
The Wolverines will be back in home action on Tuesday (Jan. 9) at 8 p.m. when they host Minnesota at Crisler Center. The first 500 fans will receive a bucket hat.
