Michigan women’s basketball is back in the Sweet 16

The great month of March continues for the Wolverines as the Michigan women’s basketball team beat Villanova to get back to the Sweet 16. 

It was fitting that in her final home game as a Michigan women’s basketball player, Naz Hillmon would finish with a double-double (her 50th) in a win that clinched a second consecutive Sweet 16 berth for the Wolverines.

Hillmon, who is undoubtedly the best player in the history of Michigan women’s basketball, made 12-of-16 shots in the win and scored 27 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds and notching five steals as U-M ran away from Villanova in the second half of a 64-49 win.

Another Sweet 16 for a Michigan basketball program

Hillmon, who is as responsible for the Wolverines’ historic run over the past few years as any single player, made 75 percent of her shot attempts, while the rest of the team connected on just 12-of-39 attempts — meaning Naz had as many field goals as the rest of her teammates combined.

That’s not a knock on them as much as it was outstanding from her. Hillmon is a big but her defense is what keyed Michigan’s press. She’s long and athletic and she’s the only Michigan basketball player (man or woman) to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.

Now, she and the Wolverines are headed back to the Sweet 16 after knocking out the 11 seed and next up is 10th-seeded South Dakota, which beat Baylor. From there, the Wolverines could face Louisville, Tennessee, or Belmont.

Hillmon was outstanding for Michigan, which played on its home court, but Leigha Brown pitched in with 20 points of her own on 7-of-15 shooting. Maddie Nolan also made two key 3-pointers.

It wasn’t a perfect performance for the Wolverines but the defense held the Wildcats to 32 percent shooting and just nine points in the fourth quarter as U-M salted away the win.

The next challenge will be making even more history in reaching the Elite 8 for the first time. But with Hillmon and so many others, history is starting to feel routine.