Michigan suffered its second straight first-time loss of the season Thursday night as it fell to Maryland at College Park. Wolverines were tested with what was thought to be an easy to “do well” game, and it was exactly that.
Leigha Brown and Laila Phelia combined for 42 points, and the two leaders single-handedly beat Minnesota as Michigan cruised to a 77-41 win.
Nothing was new in this game, as Phelia and Brown set the tone early with 15 combined points in the first quarter. They combined to shoot 7-12 from the floor, and neither stud made it to the bench in the first quarter.
With 1:28 remaining in the first quarter, Brown scored his 1,000th point from the post free-throw line and a layup.
The score was spread more evenly in the second quarter, and although Michigan only scored 15 points in the second quarter, Minnesota struggled on the offensive end of the field and the Wolverines enjoyed a 34- 23 at halftime.
Michigan came out of the locker room on fire in the third quarter. Phelia, Brown and Greta Kampschroeder all finished with at least five points, and Michigan’s lead grew to 31 points going into the fourth quarter.
Wolverines eased off in the fourth quarter with the outcome of the game already determined. The Golden Gophers failed to make up ground and Michigan came out of the barn with a 36-point win.
Late in the fourth quarter, junior forward Whiney Sollom entered the game and scored her first points of the season on a layup with 1:45 left.
With the win, Michigan moves to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten. Kim Barnes Arico’s team will return to Ann Arbor as they prepare for the Big Ten’s biggest surprise of the season, Illinois Fighting Illini.
Under first-year head coach Shauna Green, Illinois impressed many and made noise near the top of the Big Ten standings. The Fighting Illini are currently 16-5 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten.
The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. from Crisler on Thursday, February 2.
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