Michigan
Akron
Michigan to Wrap Non-Conference Season at Akron
12/18/2024 3:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (9-2) wraps up the non-conference portion of its season on Friday (Dec. 20), heading to Akron (5-5) for a noon tipoff against the Zips at James. A Rhodes Arena. The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes:
• Michigan hits the road to end non-conference action, heading to Akron for its first true road contest of the season. U-M is 2-2 this season away from Crisler Center, all coming at neutral sites.
• This will mark Michigan's only game in the state of Ohio this season, the home state of senior Jordan Hobbs.
• Michigan is currently in the midst of playing four top-15 opponents in a five-game stretch. Michigan lost to No. 10 Oklahoma on Tuesday (Dec. 17) and will face No. 5 USC, No. 1 UCLA and No. 11 Ohio State following the holiday break.
• Michigan has been stout on the defensive end this season, most recently holding No. 10 Oklahoma 20 points under its season average at the Jumpman Invitational. The Sooners entered the game ranked fourth nationally in scoring at 92.4 points per game, and U-M held them to a season-low 72 points including yielding just 10 points to OU in the second quarter -- their lowest-scoring period of the season. U-M ranks sixth in the Big Ten in scoring defense at 56.1 points per game and first in three-point field-goal percentage defense (.232).
• Akron is Michigan's second Mid-American Conference opponent of the season. U-M knocked off Central Michigan 99-62 on Nov. 14 in its other game against a MAC team. Michigan is heading to Akron for the second time since the 2019-20 season after playing in the 2019 Akron Classic, defeating Kent State and Akron at the event.
• U-M has had 10 20-point games recorded by Wolverines this season, all coming from its trio of freshman starters. Syla Swords and Olivia Olson each have four, with Mila Holloway reaching the 20-point mark twice after going for 20 points in her return to her hometown of Charlotte, N.C., in the Jumpman Invitational (Dec. 17).
• Michigan stayed at No. 20 in this week's Associated Press poll, marking its third straight week in the poll. It is the 86th time under head coach Kim Barnes Arico that U-M has been ranked by the AP. KBA accounts for 86.9 percent of Michigan's 99 total appearances in the poll. U-M also made its first appearance this season in the coaches poll, coming in at No. 25.
• Michigan resumes Big Ten play after the holiday, heading west to Los Angeles to face No. 5 USC (Dec. 29) and No. 1 UCLA (Jan. 1).
