Michigan
4-1,0-0Big Ten
UConn
5-0,0-0Big East
Swords Leads Michigan Rally in Tight Loss to No. 1 UConn
11/21/2025 10:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team erased a 20-point deficit and cut the margin to one with 13 seconds left, but No. 1-ranked UConn held on for a 72-69 win Friday evening (Nov. 21) in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena. It marked the third time in the last 13 months that U-M has faced the top-ranked team in the country.
With UConn (5-0) holding a six-point lead in the final minute, Syla Swords hit three three-pointers in a span of 36 seconds to pull Michigan (4-1) within one with 13 seconds left. UConn hit a pair of free throws to push its lead back to three, giving Michigan the ball with eight seconds remaining. Michigan turned it over, regained possession at half court, but its final desperation shot did not fall.
Swords led the way for the Maize and Blue, turning in 29 points on a career-best eight three-pointers to go with nine rebounds and three assists. Olivia Olson added an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double, with Te'Yala Delfosse and Mila Holloway each scoring seven. Michigan held UConn to 37.7 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers that led to 22 U-M points.
A Swords triple got Michigan on the board at the 7:32 mark after UConn scored the first five points of the contest. Michigan managed just one more bucket the rest of the first quarter as the Huskies took a 22-5 lead after 10 minutes.
U-M settled down in the second quarter, playing a mix of zone and man-to-man defenses to slow the UConn offense. Michigan held a 10-9 advantage at the media timeout with just under five minutes remaining, pulling within 31-15.
With just over three minutes left before halftime, Michigan got a triple from Olson to ignite a 10-4 run that brought the Wolverines within 13, 40-27, with 1:29 remaining. Olson and Holloway combined for all 10 points in the burst, each making a triple and a layup.
UConn scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 45-27 lead into the locker room.
Michigan held UConn to just four points in the third quarter as a 13-0 run forced a UConn timeout at the 2:14 mark, bringing the Wolverines within seven at 49-42. A Swords triple at 5:33 started the run as Michigan held the Huskies off the board for the final 6:19 of the quarter. Another Swords triple, followed by a Kendall Dudley putback, capped the surge.
Michigan ended the third quarter within four at 49-45 after outscoring UConn 18-4 in the period.
U-M got within two at the start of the fourth, but UConn rebuilt its lead to as many as 13 before Michigan's frenzied finish brought the margin back to three.
Michigan completes action at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase on Sunday (Nov. 23), facing Syracuse at noon. The game can be seen on FS1.
