Jan. 20, 2011
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Box Score |
Notes
• Video: Highlights 
| Coach Kevin Borseth Interview
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Score: Michigan 76, Northwestern 67
Records: U-M (11-7, 4-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (14-6, 3-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Jan. 23 -- vs. Purdue (Crisler Arena), 2 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior guard Veronica Hicks (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood) tallied her second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the University of Michigan women's basketball team to a 76-67 win at Northwestern on Thursday (Jan. 20) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The loss was Northwestern's second home loss of the season and Michigan's first win at Northwestern since the 2007-08 campaign.
Hicks was joined in double figures by sophomore center/forward Rachel Sheffer (Watervliet, Mich./Watervliet) with 16 points and sophomore guard Jenny Ryan (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) with 12 points. Hicks' 14 rebounds led all rebounders.
The Wolverines, who never trailed in the game, used a 10-6 run out of the locker room to take a 49-32 lead at the first media timeout of the second stanza. U-M, which moved to 11-2 when holding a halftime lead, forced the Wildcats into a season-high 15 turnovers and capitalized on the Wildcat miscues with 16 points on the other end.
Northwestern cut U-M's once 18-point lead to eight points with less than three minutes remaining by hitting four three-pointers in the last two minutes, but the Wolverines sealed the win from the free throw line, hitting five free throws late to move to 4-2 in Big Ten action.
After the first media timeout of the opening half, the Wolverines used four unanswered points, punctuated by a steal and fastbreak bucket from Ryan, to pull ahead, 14-7.
Michigan, which shot 44.4 (16-of-36) percent in the first half, took a 25-13 lead at the 10:41 mark, fueled by an 11-6 run.
Northwestern held U-M without a field goal for more than eight minutes, but Michigan held the Wildcats at bay and ended the half with baskets from Ryan and sophomore guard Kate Thompson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), who nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Michigan a 37-25 lead into the halftime break.
Michigan showcased its defense in the first half, forcing Northwestern into nine turnovers, which resulted in 11 U-M points. The Wolverines also received contributions from the bench, which tallied 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Michigan jumped out to a 7-2 lead early behind early buckets from Hicks, who had five of U-M's first seven points in the early going. Northwestern tied the game at 7-7, but the Wolverines responded with a deep three-pointer from junior guard Courtney Boylan (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) to keep the lead.
The Maize and Blue returns home to take on Purdue on Sunday (Jan 23.). Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Crisler Arena. Fans can catch the game with Matt Park and Jennifer Smith on the call on WTKA AM 1050.
Contact: Jessica Poole (734) 763-4423
