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Wolverines Earn First Ranked Win of Season at No. 23 Minnesota
1/22/2025 10:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 24-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter to regain a one-point lead, one Michigan did not relinquish, in a 70-65 win over No. 23 Minnesota on Wednesday night (Jan. 22) at Williams Arena. It marked Michigan's first win over a ranked team this season and ran its win streak to four.
Michigan's trio of freshmen were again key to the victory, combining for 55 points. Syla Swords recorded her seventh 20-point game of the season, finishing with 23 on the strength of six triples to go with seven rebounds and four assists. In her return home, Olivia Olson had 19 points and a game-high eight rebounds, with Mila Holloway going for 12 points, five assists and five rebounds. U-M tied a season high with 11 three-pointers and had 19 assists on 27 made field goals.
Facing a one-point deficit entering the final quarter, Michigan scored the first five points behind a jumper from Olson and a three-pointer from Swords for a 58-54 lead just over 45 seconds into the final period. Minnesota cut it to one point twice, but a 6-1 run that was capped by another Swords three-pointer pushed Michigan's lead to seven, 67-60, with 5:26 to go.
Minnesota got within four points with 2:35 to go, but neither team scored over the next two minutes. A Swords bucket in transition with just under 30 seconds remaining all but sealed the win, as Minnesota hit two free throws moments later to cut the lead back to four. Holloway split a pair at the line with three seconds remaining to provide the 70-65 margin.
Michigan raced out to an 8-2 lead behind six early points from Swords and a bucket from Olson just over two minutes in. U-M led by as many as seven in the frame before Minnesota countered with a run for a 15-13 lead. A Jordan Hobbs triple stopped the run as Michigan regained a 16-15 lead.
U-M held a 26-22 lead after 10 minutes behind 12 first-quarter points from Swords.
Michigan's lead grew to 33-28 on a Hobbs jumper in the lane with 6:31 remaining in the second quarter, but the Gophers answered with a 9-0 run over the rest of the quarter for a 37-33 halftime lead.
Michigan opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run, forcing a Minnesota timeout as Michigan's lead swelled to 46-39 with just over six minutes to go. The run featured eight points from Holloway and a triple from Swords.
Back-to-back Minnesota triples with less than two minutes remaining pushed the home team back in front, 54-50, forcing a Michigan timeout in the closing minute of the third quarter. Yulia Grabovskaia scored off a Swords assist out of the timeout and another one on a free throw as Michigan headed to the fourth down a point, 54-53.
U-M held Minnesota to 11 points in the final quarter to record its fourth straight win.
Michigan will return home to host No. 21 Michigan State on Saturday (Jan. 25) in the annual Crash Crisler game. Tipoff is set for noon and fans are encouraged to wear maize; the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
