Michigan
27-6,15-3Big Ten
NC State
21-11,13-5ACC
Pesky Defense Leads Michigan Past NC State in NCAA Second Round
3/22/2026 3:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked and No. 2-seeded University of Michigan women's basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat No. 7-seeded NC State on Sunday (March 22) at Crisler Center, advancing to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan's defensive pressure proved too much for the Wolfpack to overcome, as the Wolverines forced 22Â turnovers and recorded 14Â steals. Brooke Quarles Daniels led the defensive effort with five steals while adding six rebounds, five assists and six points in an all-around performance.
Olivia Olson led all scorers with 27 points, all coming in the second half. Syla Swords added 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting, including 4-for-10 from three-point range. Mila Holloway also reached double figures with 13 points while adding a team-high nine rebounds and six assists.
The opening quarter was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than two points. The Wolverines opened the scoring on a putback layup by Quarles Daniels following a block from Ashley Sofilkanich. The U-M center recorded two blocks in the game's opening minute.
The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter, including a Swords layup off a Quarles Daniels steal and assist with 1:34 remaining. NC State responded with a three-pointer to take a 13-12 lead at the end of the first.
U-M opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run, with seven of the points coming from Swords on three field goals. The final basket came after Sofilkanich intercepted a pass at midcourt and found Quarles Daniels, who dished to Swords for a three-pointer from the top of the arc.
Following an NC State timeout, the Wolverines continued their momentum with another steal, this time by Quarles Daniels, who found Holloway for a layup. U-M built its lead to as many as 13 points in the quarter, but the Wolfpack responded with a 15-2 run to close the half, trimming Michigan's lead to 28-25 at the break.
After the teams traded baskets over the first three minutes of the third quarter, the Wolverines used a 15-3 run to take control, pushing the lead to 49-35 with 3:24 remaining in the period. The run featured three baskets from Olson and five steals, including three by Quarles Daniels.
Michigan maintained its momentum through the end of the quarter, carrying a 60-44 lead into the final frame.
The Wolverines continued to pull away in the fourth, with Olson scoring 15 of Michigan's 32 points in the quarter. U-M outscored NC State 64-38 in a fast-paced and dominant second half.
Michigan will face either Alabama or Louisville in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday (March 28) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
