Michigan
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Minnesota
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Second-Half Surge Sends Michigan Past Minnesota
1/5/2026 10:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team trailed by 12 points in the opening minute of the second quarter before outscoring Minnesota, 60-41, the rest of the way in a 70-60 win over the Gophers on Monday evening (Jan. 5) at Crisler Center.
Olivia Olson led a trio of double-figure scorers with her fifth 20-point game of the season, finishing with 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting with four rebounds and a block in 37 minutes. Syla Swords added 12 points, three assists and two steals, while Mila Holloway chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Brooke Quarles Daniels filled the stat sheet with six points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. U-M forced 17 turnovers in the contest, converting them into 19 points.
After taking a 5-0 lead early, Minnesota outscored Michigan, 19-5, the rest of the way in the first quarter to take a 19-10 advantage after 10 minutes.
Minnesota knocked down a three-pointer less than a minute into the second quarter to extend its lead to 22-10 at the 9:05 mark. U-M responded with a 13-0 run to regain control. Holloway and Ashley Sofilkanich jump started the spurt with back-to-back buckets, followed by a three-point play from Olson and a pair of free throws from Holloway. The run continued with a Swords transition layup, two free throws from Quarles Daniels and a free throw by Te'Yala Delfosse to push Michigan ahead, 23-22, with 3:44 remaining.
Minnesota answered with a 7-0 run, but Michigan closed the half strong behind a Holloway jumper and a Swords 40-foot buzzer-beater to head into the locker room trailing by just one, 29-28.
U-M built a five-point cushion, 40-35, on a Sofilkanich layup with 5:13 left in the third quarter, scoring 12 of the first 18 points of the period. Minnesota countered to retake a 43-42 edge with under a minute remaining, but Kendall Dudley converted on Michigan's final possession to give the Wolverines a 44-43 lead after three quarters.
Michigan never trailed again. Swords converted a pair of free throws following a flagrant foul and Dudley added one free throw to cap a three-point possession and extend the margin to 47-43 just over a minute into the fourth. A Swords steal led to a Quarles Daniels layup, forcing a Minnesota timeout with U-M ahead, 49-43, at the 8:24 mark.
The teams traded baskets over the next several minutes before back-to-back layups from Swords and Olson pushed the margin to 66-56 with 2:08 remaining. Minnesota pulled within six, but Michigan sealed the win by going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line down the stretch.
Michigan returns to the road Thursday (Jan. 8), traveling to Penn State for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Lady Lions at Rec Hall.
