Michigan women's basketball blows out Wake Forest in ACC/Big Ten Challenge game
Michigan junior Jamillya Hardley is fouled by Wake Forest freshman Lindsey Wright as they scramble for the ball during the second half of Michigan's 91-58 win at Crisler Arena on Wednesday night.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
A dominant five-minute stretch of the second half turned a comfortable lead into a blowout for the Michigan women’s basketball team at Crisler Arena on Wednesday night.
The Wolverines made five 3-point baskets during a 23-0 run and cruised to a 91-58 win over Wake Forest in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game.
Junior center Carmen Reynolds stepped outside to bury a 3-point basket less than two minutes into the second half, giving Michigan a 46-31 lead. Exactly five minutes later, a Courtney Boylan 3-pointer made it 66-31 and the rout was on.
Michigan made 8 of its first 9 shots in the second half, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Wake Forest never got back within 25 points.
Reynolds scored eight of her career-high 25 points during the big run and sophomore forward Rachel Sheffer added seven of her 13.
The win lifts Michigan (4-3) over .500 for the first time this season. The Wolverines are now 4-0 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the only Big Ten team with a perfect record.
The night’s hot shooting didn’t start with the second half scoring run. The Wolverines made 16 of 25 shots on their way to a 40-29 halftime lead and finished 66-percent (33 of 50) from the floor for the game.
“We have a lot of shooters on our team and at any point someone can get hot,” said senior guard Veronica Hicks, who scored 13 points.
Defensively, Michigan held Wake Forest well below its season average. Freshman Chelsea Douglas scored 16 points for the Demon Deacons (5-2), who had been averaging over 84 points and were outscoring opponents by more than 25 points per contest.
Sophomore guard Nya Jordan, who was helped off the court late in the game after suffering a leg injury, added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Wolverines.
All 10 active players on the Michigan roster scored during the game and the Wolverines eclipsed 90 points for the first time since a Nov. 2009 win over Southern Miss.
Comments
Ruth
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 1:16 p.m.
It was a great game. I wish other area people would come and enjoy the games. The U-M women are playing well together. As noted in the story, all of the team members played AND scored. Big Ten season starts December 30 with Ohio State at 6:30 pm in Crisler. Next home game Thursday, December 9, with Kansas at 7:00 pm. Come enjoy 2 hours of play.