Xavier guard Special Jennings tightly defends Michigan guard Jenny Ryan during Muskateers' 85-76 win at Crisler Arena on Monday night.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Updated 10:27 p.m.

For a stretch, the Michigan women’s basketball team’s game against No. 5 Xavier had a very similar feel.

Last year in Cincinnati, the Wolverines rallied from a halftime deficit to upset then No. 8 Xavier, 72-71.

On Monday in Crisler Arena, the Wolverines went on a 15-3 run over a four-minute span midway through the second half to cut a 14-point deficit to two with seven minutes remaining.

But the Muskateers finally capitalized on their height advantage down the stretch and never relinquishing the lead in an 85-76 non-conference win.

Xavier’s Katie Rutan scored all 22 of her points in the first half and made seven of the Musketeers’ 13 shots from 3-point range as the Wolverines (1-1) focused on taking away the inside play of 6-foot-5 forward Amber Harris and 6-foot-6 center Ta’Shia Phillips.

"I don't blame them. They were going to sit in there and try to take away our post players," Xavier coach Kevin McGuff said. "But we've got people that can score from the perimeter, obviously. That's what Katie's supposed to do."

Phillips eventually finished with 18 points and Harris had 16. The duo combined for 20 points in the second half.

Xavier led 47-44 after an entertaining first half that included a missed dunk by Harris and a four-point play by Rutan. The Musketeers (2-0) appeared to be pulling away when they led 70-56, but Michigan responded with a 15-3 run.

The Wolverines had a chance to tie it, but Veronica Hicks -- who scored a team-high 22 points -- missed an open shot from the baseline.

Phillips and Harris then led an 8-0 run that made it 83-73.

"Their defense is something that we're used to seeing — packing it in on the inside," Phillips said. "We have confidence in each other and in our teammates."

Wolverines coach Kevin Borseth said his team was playing good defense, but it was no use.

"We had three mistakes in the first half. That's it," Borseth said. "Three mistakes, and they hit three 3s. We made three mistakes. They buried all three."

Rutan didn't attempt a shot from inside 3-point range — except a free throw she made for a four-point play after being fouled while making a shot from just behind the top of the key.

"The more shots I made the more confidence I had," she said.

Harris tried to add another highlight in the first half, but she missed a dunk attempt. She went 3 of 9 in the half, and Phillips was held to only one field goal attempt as both teams put on an impressive display from behind the arc.

Sophomore guards Jenny Ryan and Kate Thompson added 13 points for the Wolverines, who made 12 3-pointers of their own.

"Fun for the fans to watch — one 3 buried after another," Borseth said. "Both teams played extremely well, shot extremely well."

Xavier, which reached the NCAA quarterfinals last season, has won 17 straight regular-season games.

Last year, Michigan freshman Dayeesha Hollins scored 22 points, including a layup with 17 seconds left, that gave the Wolverines a 72-71 victory at then No. 8-ranked Xavier.

Hollins left the team after the season, citing homesickness, and enrolled at the University of Cincinnati.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.