Michigan
26-6,15-3Big Ten
Holy Cross
23-10,14-4Patriot
Wolverines Lead Wire-to-Wire in NCAA Tourney Win Over Holy Cross
3/20/2026 8:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked and No. 2-seeded University of Michigan women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in an 83-48 win over No. 15 seed Holy Cross in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday (March 20) at Crisler Center. Michigan put up 27 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 35 points in the game.
Five Wolverines scored double digits during the game, led by Mila Holloway's 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Syla Swords turned in 13 points, hitting her first five shots to go with four rebounds and a pair of steals. Olivia Olson reached double figures for the 32nd time this season, going for 12 points and eight rebounds. Brooke Quarles Daniels had 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, with Te'Yala Delfosse turning in 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Michigan started the game on a 10-0 run, not allowing Holy Cross to score until the six-minute mark of the first quarter. Holloway started the scoring, with Ashley Sofilkanich, Swords and Quarles Daniels scoring during the opening spurt. Holloway cashed in on a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the quarter, giving Michigan a 27-6 lead after 10 minutes of action.
The Wolverines led by as many as 26 points in the second quarter, but Holy Cross matched U-M with 16 points in the second 10 minutes, hitting the half with a 43-22 Michigan lead. Olson scored on Michigan's final possession to push the lead to 21 points. Swords turned in 12 first-half points, with Holloway going for 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Much like the first quarter, Michigan's defense was staunch in the third quarter and held the Crusaders without a point for more than five minutes. The Michigan lead ballooned to as many as 28 in the third quarter before taking a 57-34 lead into the fourth.
It was all U-M in the fourth quarter, with Michigan putting up 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting in the final frame. Nine Wolverines found the scoring column, with Ally VanTimmeren and McKenzie Mathurin scoring in the final minutes to round out Michigan's scorers.
Michigan will face either Tennessee or NC State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday (March 22) at Crisler Center.
