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Brown helps No. 13 Michigan beat No. 5 Baylor 74-68 in OT

Posted December 19, 2021 6:00 am

By DOUG FEINBERG

Baylor's Caitlin Bickle (51) fouls Michigan's Leigha Brown (32) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Michigan has had many good wins in program history but never has been able to beat a top-five opponent until Sunday.

That Michigan could end that 0-33 mark against Baylor made it extra special because the Bears ended the Wolverines' season last year in the Sweet 16.

Leigha Brown scored 25 points to lead No. 13 Michigan to a 74-68 win over fifth-ranked Baylor in the Hall of Fame Women's Showcase.

'œIt hasn't sunk in yet we beat a top-five team,'ť Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. 'œIt's a great signature win.'ť

The game was a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament overtime thriller that Baylor won 78-75. NaLyssa Smith made all 11 of her shots from the field in that game. While the stakes weren't the same, this game was just as competitive.

'œWe had a bad taste in our mouth how it ended,'ť Brown said. 'œThat's in the back of our minds this whole season. It feels great.

Leading 66-65 in OT, Emily Kiser made two free throws and Brown added a jumper that gave the Wolverines (11-1) a five-point lead with 1:23 left.

Baylor (9-2) got within 70-68 and after a turnover had a chance to tie it, but Smith missed a drive down the lane with 15 seconds left. Maddie Nolan converted two free throws with 11.7 seconds left to seal the win.

Smith had 21 points and 14 rebounds for Baylor.

With the game tied at 59, Baylor had a chance to win it at the end of regulation. After Michigan star Naz Hillmon fouled out with 22.2 seconds left, the Bears missed a drive by Jordan Lewis. After the ball went out of bounds off a Michigan player, Smith missed a turnaround jumper on the baseline.

'œNo mystery. Not going to use her as a decoy,'ť Baylor coach Nicki Collen said. 'œBecause the problem of using her as a decoy, it's great if the play works. If it doesn't, I'm an idiot. Put the ball in your best player's hands and let her make a play.'ť

Michigan grabbed the rebound and couldn't get a shot off in the final four-tenths of a second, sending the game to overtime.

The Wolverines were up comfortably by nine late in the third quarter before Hillmon picked up her fourth foul and the Bears were able to rally.

Michigan trailed by three after one quarter and led by four at the half.

Hillmon finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Smith and Hillmon are two of the top potential picks in the WNBA draft next spring. The league was holding its annual draft lottery Sunday. Many WNBA scouts were in attendance at the game.

'œThat would be great,'ť Smith said of going to Washington, which got the No. 1 pick in the draft. 'œI have family in D.C., too. That's where my dad's from. That's looking pretty right now.'ť

HOMECOMING

Collen spent two seasons as an assistant for the WNBA Connecticut Sun before getting the head coaching job with the Atlanta Dream. She spent three seasons there before taking over at Baylor this year.

BIG PICTURE

Baylor: The Bears had chances to beat the Wolverines but couldn't come up with the big plays down the stretch.

Michigan: The Wolverines got a signature win ahead of their rivalry game against Ohio State.

UP NEXT

Baylor: Hosts Houston Baptist on Dec. 29 before starting Big 12 play.

Michigan: Hosts Ohio State on Dec. 31 in a Big Ten game. The Wolverines had their game against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday canceled because of COVID-19 concerns within the EMU program.

___

More AP women's college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Baylor's NaLyssa Smith (1) makes a basket as Michigan's Emily Kiser (33) and Michigan's Jordan Hobbs (10) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor's Queen Egbo (4) fouls Michigan's Emily Kiser (33) as she drives to the basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor's NaLyssa Smith (1) and Michigan's Naz Hillmon (0) look for a rebound in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor's NaLyssa Smith (1) shoots over Michigan's Naz Hillmon (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Michigan's Danielle Rauch (23) and Michigan's Jordan Hobbs (10) fight for control of the ball with Baylor's Queen Egbo (4) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Oregon forward Quincy Guerrier (13), attempts a basket against Baylor in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd) The Associated Press

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico calls out to her team in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor head coach Nicki Collen gestures in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor's Ja'Mee Asberry (21) is pressured by Michigan's Leigha Brown (32) and Michigan's Naz Hillmon (0) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

Baylor's Sarah Andrews (24) shoots over Michigan's Leigha Brown (32) in overtime of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) The Associated Press

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