FINAL SCORE: Michigan 78, Vermont 56
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Freshman
Hanna Crymble racked up a career-high 17 points but Vermont was unable to recover from a 25-point third quarter for Michigan as the Catamounts fell 78-56 at the Crisler Center on Saturday.
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The Wolverines improve to 10-3 with the win, while UVM is now 3-7 on the season.
Vermont was successful in containing Michigan's leading scorer Katelynn Flaherty, who finished with only eight points. Flaherty entered the weekend averaging 20 on a night-to-night basis and was held below double figures for the first time since Nov. 29, 2015.
After U-M's Jillian Dunston opened the game's with a jumper and layup in the first 2:40,
Lauren Handy responded with a three-pointer for the Catamounts. In spite of an 11-3 deficit following the first quarter media timeout, UVM proceeded to construct a 6-0 run with the help of
Hayley Robertson,
Katie Lavelle and Crymble.
UVM refused to go down without a fight and did not trail by more than five in the first seven minutes of the second period. Lavelle and
Jessica Fuller brought the Catamounts back even with Michigan in the first three minutes and came back within two when Crymble hit from behind the arc with 3:39 on the clock. Michigan then closed the half with an 11-2 run, heading into the break with a 34-23 lead in hand.
In addition to recording seven assists on nine first half goals, the Catamounts turned the ball over just four times in the first 20 minutes, their fewest to date this season.
The Wolverines then began to pull away with the onset of the second half. Highlighted by a 12-point third quarter performance in the paint, Michigan pocketed nine points from Kysre Gondrezick and used a fast break layup from Flaherty to gain a 21-point advantage at the 5:16 mark.
Michigan ultimately reached its largest lead in the fourth quarter, moving the score to 63-37 with 9:11 on the clock after Nicole Munger hit a layup.
U-M registered 18 offensive rebounds on the day and converted that figure into 19 second chance points.
Vermont now treks up Interstate 75 to take on Oakland on Tuesday (Dec. 20). Tip off in that game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Athletics Center O'rena in Rochester, Michigan.