The Michigan women’s basketball team is headed to Paradise, and the Wolverines will be undefeated when they arrive.
Michigan topped Seton Hall, 51-47, in a battle of unbeaten teams Sunday at Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, N.J.
It was the first of five straight road games for Michigan (4-0), which plays in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands from Thursday through Saturday and returns to the mainland for a Nov. 30 date at Maryland.
Michigan led the host Pirates (3-1) for most of the second half Sunday, but not by more than six points.
Nya Jordan split a pair of free throws to give the Wolverines a 49-47 lead with 26 seconds remaining. Michigan’s Kate Thompson then blocked a Seton Hall shot with 12 seconds remaining and Rachel Sheffer sealed the win with a pair of free throws.
Sheffer made 12-of-14 free throw attempts on her way to a game-high 18 points.
Michigan senior Courtney Boylan added 11 points and three assists. The 5-foot-7 guard also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
Seton Hall senior guard Jasmine Crew, who was leading the Big East with a 21.3-point scoring average, scored just nine points.
Crew opened the game’s scoring with an early 3-pointer, but picked up her third foul with 13:30 left in first half and didn’t play again until after halftime. She finished the game 3-of-14 shooting in 27 minutes.
Alexandra Maseko led the Pirates with 12 points.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 63, LOYOLA-CHICAGO 55
Tavelyn James scored 20 points and Paige Redditt recorded the fifth double-double of her career (17 points, 18 rebounds) to lead the Eagles to a non-conference win in Chicago.
James hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining for a 59-55 lead. Desyree Thomas scored the game’s final four points for the Eagles (3-1) on a fast break layup and two free throws.
Redditt’s 18 rebounds were a career high and led the Eagles’ 46-26 edge in that category.
Patrice King scored 24 points for Loyola.
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