Michigan basketball dominates Buckeyes in Columbus

Danielle Rauch finished a layup through a foul, tumbled to the court, then stood up and flexed. 

It was still early, but the senior guard and her teammates on the Michigan women’s basketball team had plenty to celebrate on Thursday night in Columbus. The seventh-ranked Wolverines (18-2, 9-1 Big Ten) used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to build an early lead and extended it throughout the third quarter to rout No. 22 Ohio State, 77-58. 

The 10-0 run spanned two minutes in the first quarter. It began with a Leigha Brown layup, followed with the Rauch and-one and included two buckets in the paint from All-American Naz Hillmon.

That set the tone early, but foul trouble and the Buckeyes’ high press threatened to give the home team an avenue back into the game. With three starters sitting with two fouls, Brown made a 3-pointer and a jumper in the final minute of the first half to extend Michigan’s lead to 15 points at halftime. 

At the half, Michigan led 38-23. It was Ohio State’s lowest-scoring half of the year, according to the Big Ten Network broadcast — an especially impressive feat considering the Buckeyes had the fourth-best scoring offense in the nation before the contest.

Michigan began the second half on a 7-0 scoring run to quell hopes of an Ohio State comeback, and by the end of the third quarter, the Wolverines were up 27. Such a big advantage meant the fourth quarter was largely for show. 

Hillmon finished with her 43rd career double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds). Midway through the third quarter, she became the program’s all-time leading rebounder, passing Trish Andrew (1989-93).

But it was far from a contest in which Michigan had to rely exclusively on Hillmon. Maddie Nolan was a sharpshooter from 3, making half of her six attempts. And two other Wolverines finished in double-digits: Brown and forward Emily Kiser. 

What it means 

The Wolverines extended the best start in program history. Their five wins over ranked opponents represent a program record. 

They’ve also swept the Buckeyes in the regular season. (They won by 19 on New Year’s Eve.)

It’s Michigan’s third straight win over Ohio State and its first win in Columbus since January 2018. 

What comes next 

The Wolverines return to Ann Arbor for their biggest game of the Big Ten — a top-10 showdown against Indiana. 

The Hoosiers haven’t played since Jan. 16 (COVID-19) and will likely be without leading scorer Mackenzie Holmes (knee).

“It’s going to be an incredible matchup. They’re a great team; they return everyone. They have experience and we have a chance to get them at home,” Barnes Arico said earlier this week. 

“We could really use our fans there that night,” she said. “Our fans make a difference. Playing at home, playing at Crisler makes a difference. We always talk about protecting the block ‘M.’ If everyone can come out and show their support that night, it will definitely help us.”