Michigan
Northwestern
Michigan to Open B1G Play With Northwestern
12/5/2024 12:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Promotions
• The Magic of Michigan, Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan -- In honor of the 75th anniversary of Disney's classic "Cinderella," come experience the Magic of Michigan. There will be character appearances and kids' activities on the concourse pregame.
• Michigan Mouse Ears Giveaway -- The first 500 kids in attendance will receive a free light-up, Michigan-branded mouse ear headband.
• Wolverine Kids Club Day -- All Wolverine Kids Club members are invited to attend this game. Kids Club members must claim their complimentary tickets in advance using the promo code in the app.
• Halftime Performance -- Tyler's Amazing Balancing Act
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Postgame Free Throws -- Following the game, children in 6th grade and under are invited onto the court to attempt a free throw presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Must check in at the Marketing Table in Section 136 prior to the end of the first quarter and pick up a wristband. Limited quantities available.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten) opens conference action on Sunday (Dec. 8), hosting Northwestern (4-3, 0-0 Big Ten) at Crisler Center. Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
Notes
• Michigan is playing one conference game before turning its attention back to non-conference action. U-M still has games against Detroit Mercy, Oklahoma and Akron remaining before league action begins in earnest at the end of the month. U-M has won its last four conference openers after an 84-48 win last season against Illinois in Champaign. This is the second time in the last three years that Michigan is playing an early conference game against Northwestern. The Wolverines recorded a 77-66 win over the Wildcats in their last early meeting, coming at Crisler on Dec. 4, 2022.
• Michigan captured the Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division championship title after wins over Belmont and Virginia Tech last weekend (Nov. 29-30). It marked Michigan's first in-season tournament title since winning the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase behind victories over Air Force, USF and Baylor. Syla Swords was named the MVP of the event, with Olivia Olson earning all-tournament honors.
• Michigan has won seven straight games for the first time since winning nine straight to open the 2022-23 season (Nov. 9-Dec. 4). Over the stretch, Michigan has been scoring 89.1 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting. The defense has been just as impressive, holding opponents to 52.7 points per game on 34.5 percent shooting.
• Michigan entered the Associated Press poll this week, coming in at No. 23 on the strength of its seven-game win streak. It is the first time that U-M is in the poll since the final edition of the 2022-23 season. Michigan is one of a record nine Big Ten teams to appear in this week's poll. It is the 84th time under head coach Kim Barnes Arico that U-M has been ranked by the AP. KBA accounts for 86.6 percent of Michigan's 97 total appearances in the poll.
• Michigan has had three players record double-doubles this season, with all three marking the first of their respective careers. Swords got it going, recording career highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds against South Carolina in the season opener (Nov. 4). Jordan Hobbs followed that up with 17 points and 11 rebounds against Lehigh (Nov. 8), the first double-figure rebounding performance of her career. Olson was the latest Wolverine to join the double-double party, going for 19 points and 11 rebounds against Belmont (Nov. 29).
• Yulia Grabovskaia has found her groove coming off the Michigan bench, scoring in double figures in three of the last four games. She scored a season-best 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting against Long Beach State (Nov. 24) in just 14 minutes of action. She was integral in Michigan's win over Virginia Tech, going for 10 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes before fouling out. For the season, she is averaging 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.
• On Monday (Dec. 2), Swords was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after helping Michigan to a 2-0 week and the Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Championship. She was named the MVP of the Fort Myers Tip-Off after averaging 19 points and seven rebounds per game across the two games. She made nine three-pointers for the weekend on 50.0 percent shooting from deep. Swords recorded 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists in Michigan's win over Belmont (Nov. 29). She followed that up with 24 points, six rebounds, two steals and an assist in the Wolverine win over Virginia Tech (Nov. 30). She was 6-for-10 from three-point range, becoming the 10th different Wolverine to hit at least six three-pointers in a game.
• Olson scored in double figures for the first time in her career with 17 points against Lehigh (Nov. 8). She followed that up with the first 20-point game of her young career, going for 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting against Central Michigan (Nov. 14). Last week, she recorded back-to-back 20-point games, bringing her total to three on the season. She recorded the first double-double of her career with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Belmont (Nov. 29). For the season, she is third among Big Ten freshmen in scoring at 16.1 points per game. She is up to 50.0 percent shooting on the season and is grabbing 5.8 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game.
• Michigan has just one home contest remaining in the 2024 calendar year, hosting Detroit Mercy next Saturday (Dec. 14) at 3 p.m. U-M will not be home again until facing Ohio State on Jan. 8.
