Michigan
Central Michigan
Wolverines Start Fast, Breeze Past CMU
11/14/2024 9:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team outscored Central Michigan in every quarter en route to a 99-72 win Thursday night (Nov. 14) at Crisler Center. Michigan scored the first 11 points of the game and forced 11 CMU turnovers in the opening quarter to take control.
All five of Michigan's starters scored in double figures, highlighted by a pair of 20-point performances from freshmen Olivia Olson (23) and Mila Holloway (21). Greta Kampschroeder added 14 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Syla Swords and Jordan Hobbs each chipped in 11 points. The Wolverines shot 45.7% from the floor and held CMU to 39.3%, forcing 26 Chippewa turnovers.
Michigan opened the game with an 11-0 run, featuring baskets from Swords, Holloway, and Olson, and a triple from Hobbs to cap off the flurry to gain an early advantage in the contest.
The Wolverines dominated the first quarter, taking a 29-8 lead after 10 minutes by forcing the aforementioned turnovers and holding Central Michigan scoreless for more than five minutes.
Swords started the second quarter scoring with a three-pointer serving as the catalyst for a high-powered period. The next Wolverine bucket came from Kampschroeder, her third on the night and she finished the quarter with 12 points, all behind the arc, to lead all scorers. The Wolverines took their largest lead of the half with 5:38 left in the second quarter, widening the gap to 31 points and leading CMU 43-12. As the quarter progressed, the Chippewas cut the lead down to 19 with 1:30 left in the frame. Michigan led 53-30 at the break after an Olson steal-and-score to beat the buzzer.
Following two made free throws by Swords to start the second half, Olson knocked down her first triple of the night with 9:49 left to go in the quarter. Central Michigan was able to get within 22 with 4:02 left in the quarter, but CMU was quickly thwarted by the Wolverines with a three from Holloway to push the lead back to 27 with just over three minutes remaining. A bucket by Kampschroeder in the waning seconds gave U-M a 28-point lead after 30 minutes.
Olson again started off the scoring in the fourth quarter at the 9:30 mark with a pull-up jumper and was perfect from the field in the final period going 4-for-4 with 8 points scored. The Wolverines' lead ballooned to 37 points with just under 30 seconds remaining on a layup by Brooke Quarles Daniels. Eight of the 10 Wolverines who saw the floor scored in the contest.
Michigan continues its home stand Sunday (Nov. 17), hosting Oakland at noon.
