Michigan
20-9,11-7Big Ten
Illinois
21-8,11-7Big Ten
Wolverines Storm Back at Illinois for 20th Win of the Season
3/2/2025 4:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed the game on a 19-4 run over the final 3:41, erasing a six-point deficit en route to a 78-69 win over Illinois on Sunday afternoon (March 2). The win marked Michigan's 20th victory of the season and 11th in conference play.
Down 65-59 with 3:41 left, Michigan (20-9) uncorked a 17-0 surge to erase the deficit and take control of the game. The run started with a Mila Holloway stepback jumper at the top of the key, followed by a three-point play from the point guard to pull the Wolverines within a point, 65-64, with 2:41 remaining.
Following an Illinois (21-8) turnover, Olivia Olson found Holloway for her eighth straight point behind a three-pointer, giving Michigan its first lead since the second quarter with 2:02 on the clock. The Wolverines continued their run as Syla Swords knocked down her only triple of the game on the next possession off an offensive rebound by Olson.
After an Illinois timeout with 53 seconds left and Michigan leading 70-65, the Illini turned the ball over on the inbounds play, giving possession back to U-M. The Wolverines went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final minute to ice the game.
Michigan had four double-figure scorers, led by Holloway with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Olson contributed 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Jordan Hobbs added 16 points and seven rebounds. Greta Kampschroeder kept Michigan afloat in the first half, scoring all 10 of her points in the first 20 minutes. Michigan capitalized on Illinois' mistakes, scoring 25 points off 17 Illini turnovers to negate a 37-34 rebounding disadvantage.
Illinois opened the scoring with a pair of free throws before Michigan responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Holloway layup at the 5:51 mark of the first quarter.
U-M went scoreless over the final four minutes of the first quarter, allowing Illinois to take an 11-8 lead after 10 minutes.
The teams traded baskets early in the second quarter before Kampschroeder hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Michigan a 23-21 advantage with just over four minutes left in the half. However, Illinois answered by scoring 13 of the next 18 points to take a 34-28 lead into halftime.
The Illini extended their lead to double digits with the first four points of the third quarter, but Hobbs and Olson responded with consecutive transition baskets to cut the deficit to six less than three minutes into the period.
Michigan had a chance to pull within four but missed a layup, and Illinois capitalized with a 17-foot jumper to push its lead back to eight, 40-32, with 6:17 remaining.
Following an Illinois timeout, Hobbs pulled Michigan within six with a tough finish in the lane, but the Illini answered with a three-pointer to go up 43-34. The Wolverines responded with back-to-back baskets from Olson, including a three-pointer, followed by a Holloway layup to make it 43-41. Michigan tied the game at 45-45 and again at 48-48, but Illinois converted a three-point play to take a 51-48 lead into the fourth quarter.
Illinois led by as many as seven points in the final period before Michigan mounted its game-sealing run.
