DEARBORN, Mich. -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn women's basketball team struggled at home against Cleary University, losing 82-62 on Saturday (Jan. 4). The Wolverines, still seeking their first victory of the season, dropped to 0-16 overall and 0-8 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), while Cleary improved to 5-9 and 4-3 in conference play.
Strong Start for Cleary
Cleary came out hot in the first quarter, building an early lead with an 18-8 advantage. The Wolverines had difficulty finding their rhythm offensively, shooting just 28.6% in the opening period. Marissa Thomas, who had a team-high 15 points for UM-Dearborn, was the primary offensive contributor scoring four of the teams eight points.
The Wolverines honed in their offensive rhythm in the second, keeping pace with the Cougars in a 16-16 second quarter. Cleary's balanced offensive attack, led by Amy Jackson (17 points) and Samantha Hoelscher (17 points), stifled the Wolverines, who struggled with scoring efficiency. UM-Dearborn's offense found some rhythm with Bailey Stimac and Sydney Dixon both contributing, but the Wolverines still trailed by 10 going into the break.
Cleary Pulls Away in the Second Half
The third quarter proved to be decisive as Cleary put the game out of reach. The Cougars scored 26 points while UM-Dearborn managed just 16. Cleary's dominance on the boards, led by Mileisha Rodriguez's 10 rebounds, gave them multiple second-chance opportunities. The Wolverines were again led by Marissa Thomas, who had a stellar performance at the free-throw line (7-7), but UM-Dearborn's shooting struggles continued to hinder their ability to mount a comeback.
Wolverines Show Fight, but Cleary Stays Strong
In the final quarter, UM-Dearborn showed some fight, pacing Cleary 22-22, but it was too little, too late. India Grissom and Lillian Golson both provided valuable minutes off the bench, scoring seven points apiece, but the Wolverines could not overcome Cleary's offensive firepower. Cleary shot 54.1% from the field and 78.6% from the free-throw line, while UM-Dearborn managed just 36.7% shooting overall and struggled from three-point range (25%).
Key Performers
For Cleary, Amy Jackson and Samantha Hoelscher were outstanding, combining for 34 points, while Taedom Stein contributed nine points and 10 rebounds. Rylee Thomas added five points and three steals to the winning effort.
Marissa Thomas led the Wolverines with 15 points, while Sydney Dixon and Bailey Stimac contributed 12 and nine points, respectively. Despite their efforts, the team could not match Cleary's offensive production.
