The Michigan Wolverines women's basketball team is making waves in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third time in program history. Hosting the opening weekend in Ann Arbor, the No. 2 seed Wolverines dispatched both Holy Cross and NC State with relative ease, overcoming early challenges to secure decisive victories.
Michigan's journey isn't just about hanging another banner-it's about pushing further, with the Final Four in their sights. Senior forward Alyssa Crockett emphasized the team's ambition: “You come to Michigan because you want to hang a banner, and now we’re going to hang a banner.
But that doesn’t mean we stop now. We can’t get comfortable.
We’re super confident in ourselves.”
The Wolverines head to Fort Worth, Texas, with the goal of reaching their first Final Four, buoyed by their impressive performances in the first two rounds.
First and Second Round Highlights
In their first matchup, Michigan dominated Holy Cross with an 83-48 victory. The Wolverines set the tone early, ending the first quarter with a commanding 27-6 lead. They maintained control throughout, thanks to a strong performance on the boards and careful ball handling-securing 10 more offensive rebounds and committing 11 fewer turnovers.
Sophomore guard Mila Holloway led the charge with 20 points, including five three-pointers, supported by five teammates scoring in double figures. Coach Kim Barnes Arico noted the team's defensive pressure was key: “Our pressure obviously was something that they’re not accustomed to, and we were able to really jump on them in the beginning.”
Against NC State, the first half was a back-and-forth affair. The Wolverines managed a narrow 28-25 lead at halftime, despite a slow start from key players Olivia Olson and Syla Swords. However, Michigan’s defensive intensity ramped up in the second half, forcing 22 turnovers and grabbing 15 offensive rebounds, which translated into 27 more shot attempts than their opponents.
Coach Barnes Arico highlighted the pivotal shift: “That’s our goal every day to try to force 20 turnovers. Once we decided to press... the tide started to turn a little bit.”
The third quarter saw NC State buckle under Michigan's full-court press, committing 10 turnovers. Olson and Swords found their rhythm, scoring 27 and 26 points respectively. Michigan capitalized on turnovers, scoring 35 points off them, and posted a staggering 64 points in the second half alone, cruising to a 92-63 victory.
With their eyes set on the Final Four, the Wolverines are poised and ready to continue their journey, carrying the confidence and momentum from their commanding performances into the next round.