Michigan
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USC
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Wolverines Fall at No. 4 USC
12/29/2024 11:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team hung tough with No. 4-ranked USC before falling, 78-58, Sunday evening (Dec. 29) at the Galen Center. Michigan scored the first five points out of the half for a lead in the early stages of the third quarter but the Trojans regained at the midway point of the quarter and never gave it back.
Michigan had a trio of double-figure scorers in Jordan Hobbs (19), Greta Kampschroeder (14) and Olivia Olson (11). The Wolverines won the battle on the glass, 38-37, but USC made 20 free throws on 23 attempts to Michigan's nine makes on 14 attempts. Both teams struggled to take care of the ball, with Michigan committing 23 turnovers and USC going for 18. Â
Michigan was down early but two triples from Kampschroeder pushed Michigan ahead 8-5 with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter. USC ended the first quarter on an 8-0 run, taking a 17-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
The run extended to 10-0 after USC scored first in the second quarter before a pair of Mila Holloway free throws ended the spurt with just over nine minutes remaining in the second.
Hobbs hit three straight triples to pull the Wolverines back within five, 29-24, at the midway part of the second quarter. Michigan continued to hang with the Trojans, climbing within three points on Hobbs ' fourth triple of the second quarter at the 1:47 mark.
A pair of free throws from Brooke Quarles Daniels with 57 seconds remaining before the half kept the USC lead at two, 33-31. USC hit one more free throw down the stretch, taking a 34-31 lead in to the locker room.
U-M scored the first five points of the third quarter, getting back-to-back buckets from Olson and a free throw from Hobbs for a 36-34 to force a USC timeout with just under eight minutes remaining in the third.
USC responded with a 9-2 spurt, regaining a 43-38 lead at the 5:01 mark. A Quarles Daniels three-point play pulled Michigan back within two points moments later, but USC made 13-of-14 free throws in the third period to head to the fourth with a 57-47 lead.
The Trojans opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run, putting the game out of reach for Michigan, who was without second-leading scorer Syla Swords in the contest.
Michigan will conclude its trip out west on Wednesday (Jan. 1), taking on No. 1 UCLA in Westwood at 2 p.m. PT.
