The Basics
Final Score: Michigan 95, Detroit Mercy 62
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-4, Michigan 3-0
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Crisler Center)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (11/19/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team battled back-and-forth for much of the first half Monday night, but the Wolverines pulled away during the second half as the Titans fell 95-62 in a non-conference game from Crisler Center.

Freshman Sophia DiMilia, senior Brittney Jackson and junior Zoey Oatis all each had 11 points to lead the Titans in scoring. Sophomore Lexey Tobel added nine points and a team-best six rebounds. The Titans shot well in the game, hitting at a season-best 43.5 shooting clip, while sinking 15-of-16 free throws (93.8 percent).

The Titans got off to a strong start, using a 7-0 run midway through the first quarter to take an early 7-5 lead. After an offensive rebound by Oatis, Jess Bicknell hit a 3-pointer from the wing, Tobel followed with two free throws and Oatis then finished on a lay-up on the fast break to give Detroit Mercy a 7-5 edge at the 6:02 mark of the first stanza.

Detroit Mercy made all eight free throws in the first quarter and trailed after one, 24-17, as Oatis converted on a lay-up with 18 ticks left in the quarter. Jackson was 4-for-4 from the stripe in the first quarter and had six points for the red, white and blue.

Michigan took a 28-17 lead early in the second, but Detroit Mercy then countered with a 20-6 run during the stanza. DiMilia, hit back-to-back 3-pointers from the wing to force the Wolverines to call a timeout with the Titans trailing just 28-23. Following the timeout, Tobel scored six-straight points, sinking a trey and then converting on an old-fashioned 3-point play after she sank a jumper from the baseline and was fouled. She made the ensuing free throw. Her six points pulled the Titans to within one, 30-29.

The red, white and blue tied the game 34-34 as Oatis sank the Titans' fifth 3-pointer of the first half at the 5:30 mark. DiMilia then sank a lay-up and was fouled and after making the free throw, the Titans held a 37-34 lead with 4:44 left in the first half.

Michigan would use a big run of its own to take the 54-37 halftime lead. DiMilia led all Titans in the first half with her 11 points. The Titans shot 50 percent (11-for-22) in the first half, sinking all 10 free throw shots and knocking down 5-of-9 shots from 3-point range.

The Wolverines would pull away in the second half for the victory. Freshman Paige Bellman sank all four field goal attempts in the second half to finish with eight points. Freshman Jiera Shears added five points, sinking her first career 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. Bicknell also knocked in all four free throw attempts in the fourth and finished the contest with seven points.

Detroit Mercy was 7-of-16 from beyond the 3-point arc (43.8 percent). DiMilia added four rebounds and Jackson had a team-best three assists. Six different players made 3-pointers.

Titan News & Notes
• DiMilia's 11 points were a season-high. It was her first double figure scoring effort for the Titans in her third career game.
• Jackson and Oatis were each in double figures for the third time this season.
• Detroit Mercy's seven 3-pointers were a season-best as was its 43-percent shooting percentage.
• The Titans shot over 90 percent from the free throw line (15-of-16) for the first time since against Oakland (10-for-10 FT) on Feb. 19 last season.
• Titan assistant coach Madison Ristovski was a former University of Michigan standout who graduated as the all-time leader in wins as a player (83) and games played (137).
• It was the 28th all-time meeting between the Titans and Wolverines (Detroit Mercy trails in the series, 12-16).
• The two programs have met nine times in the past 10 seasons.

Up Next
Detroit Mercy heads to New York City for the Thanksgiving holiday, playing against Manhattan College on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.