ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Butler women's basketball team was defeated by #19 Michigan on Wednesday afternoon by the final score of 93-54.
Okako Adika once again led the team in scoring with 17 points and
Jaia Alexander would come up with 13 in her Bulldog debut.
Alexander just missed a double-double by grabbing a team-high eight rebounds in her first game since the 2017-18 season. Adika also helped BU on the glass with six boards in the road setback.
Emilia Sexton made her season debut for Butler against the Wolverines and would knock down three 3-pointers for the Bulldogs.
Nyamer Diew was also a factor from long range, going 2-for-2 from behind the arc to net six points. Joining Diew in the box score with six points was senior
Upe Atosu.
Naz Hillmon led the Wolverines in the scoring column with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds and was credited with a blocked shot. Leigha Brown and Akienreh Johnson were also active on the offensive end. Brown scored 19 points and Johnson chipped in with 12. That trio was responsible for all 19 Michigan points in the first quarter when the Wolverines opened up a 19-5 advantage.
Butler got off to a rough start making just one of their first 14 field goal attempts. The Wolverines opened the game on a 12-0 scoring run and would lead 49-27 at the half.
The second quarter was far more competitive as Butler got another 3-point field goal from Sexton followed by seven-straight points by Alexander. Michigan would counter, and get a lift off their bench from Michelle Sidor. She hit three of her first four 3-point field goals and would end the game with 16 points.
Butler battled Michigan in the third quarter and was only outscored by four during that 10-minute stretch. A 6-0 Wolverine run just before the media timeout would push their lead to 30 points and the Bulldogs wouldn't get any closer before the final buzzer.
Butler's next opponent is another Big Ten program that is nationally-ranked in the AP Poll. The 'Dawgs will travel to Bloomington on Sunday, Dec. 13 to play #15 Indiana. Tip is set for 5 PM inside Assembly Hall.
