WBB @ Indiana game notes

Opponent: #14 Indiana (12-1, 3-0 B1G)

Result: Loss, 80-59

Record: 11-4, 2-1 B1G

Date:  1/4, Away

Starters: Laila Phelia, Lauren Hansen, Jordan Hobbs, Chyra Evans, Elissa Brett (same as last 4 games)

Injuries/inactives: none

• Everybody played by the end of the first half

Offense:

• Michigan only shot 3 three-pointers in the first half, going 1-3. Hansen had the lone make on an assist from Hobbs. She also made another long two that was at first called a three and then overturned
• Cam Williams had a nice reverse layup in the first quarter when she pulled down an offensive rebound, then spun out of traffic and put it back up
• In the second quarter, Taylor Woodson stole the ball from Moore-McNeil at the top of the key and finished it off with a layup. However, Woodson followed this up a minute later by picking up Moore-McNeil full court and fouling her before the half line
• Hansen had an open attempt from three to end the half that she missed. Sollom found her with a crosscourt pass from the baseline to set it up
• Michigan was able to get good open shots, just missing a lot of them as cold shooting continues to be an issue this season
• Cam Williams had some success against Holmes down low, but could not keep from fouling and had to sit with her fourth foul in the third

Defense:

• Indiana started 15-15 from the field, their first missed field goal came 2 minutes into the second quarter. They scored 36 points in the first quarter and built a 19 point lead
• Mackenzie Holmes found her way to the bucket whenever she wanted during this span, splitting defenders and spinning around contact
• Sydney Parrish was very open from three because of double-teaming Holmes. Holmes’ ability to pass out of the post was a killer
• Michigan continues to successfully draw charges. Elissa Brett got one from Holmes at the end of the first quarter. Stuck also drew one from Parrish in the second and another in the third. Hobbs drew one from Scalia in the fourth. However, Michigan also got called for a few blocking fouls.
• Yarden Garzon didn’t score at all in the first half, then hit back-to-back threes in the third quarter
• 1-2-2 press
  • Trotted this out for a few possessions in the fourth quarter. Michigan was able to slow the ball a bit, but did not create any turnovers

Notable stats:

• Mackenzie Holmes finished with 20 points on 7-10 shooting, also 6-10 on free throws
• Sydney Parrish scored all 14 of her points in the first quarter
• Indiana had 3 players in double digit scoring (Holmes, Parrish, Scalia) before Michigan had one (Phelia got there first)
• Michigan did decently with turnovers, only committing 10, but had way too many fouls with 24
• Phelia had 23 points on 8-19 shooting, 7-10 from the free throw line

Overall: 

• After a promising win over Ohio State, Indiana blew out Michigan in much the same way Michigan has blown out lesser competition. Indiana shot perfectly in the first quarter and passably the rest of the game, defended well, and Michigan could not seem to get the lead under twenty in the second half. Despite Phelia scoring 23 hard-earned points, Michigan could not generate enough offense to mount a comeback, as no other player scored in double digits. 

Miscellaneous: 

• Indiana had over 8,000 people in attendance at Assembly Hall. Crowd noise was evident
• The refs confused the two Williams in the third quarter when Cameron Williams was fouled. Taylor Williams was sent to the line at first and took and missed the first free throw before the refs reviewed the foul and sent Cameron Williams to the line to miss the second. Indiana's coach was mad, KBA just shrugged

Up next: 

• 1/9: home vs. Minnesota (11-3, 1-2 B1G) at 8pm on Big Ten Network
  • Losses to UConn (11/19), Iowa (12/30), and Maryland (1/3)
  • Dawn Plitzuweit is in her first year as head coach
  • Stars sophomore Maura Braun who is leading scoring with 20.3 ppg, averaging almost twice as many points as the second-leading scorer: Grace Grocholski with 10.7
    • Phelia is very likely to draw this defensive matchup
  • Also look out for sophomore guard Amaya Battle and sophomore forward Mallory Heyer
  • This is a young team that starts 1 junior, 3 sophomores, and 1 freshman. Main backups are 1 senior, 1 junior, and 1 freshman. 
• 1/13: home vs. Wisconsin (7-6, 0-3 B1G) at 2pm on B1G+
  • Sophomore forward Serah Williams leads in points, rebounds, and steals
  • Sophomore guard Ronnie Porter leads in assists and steals
  • No big wins, not expected to make March Madness, anything besides a comfortable win would be concerning

Most recent bracketology: 

• ESPN has Michigan as a 10 seed (updated 1/2)
• College Sports Madness has Michigan as a 7 seed (12/21)
• Her Hoop Stats has Michigan as an 11 seed (12/14)