Michigan
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Northwestern
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Fourth-Quarter Rally Sends Michigan Past Northwestern
12/8/2024 5:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 23-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team opened the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run and outscored Northwestern, 20-10, in the final stanza to rally for a 60-54 victory over the Wildcats on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 8) at Crisler Center.
With Michigan down four points entering the final period, Olivia Olson scored the first seven points of the fourth to push Michigan ahead, 48-44. Following a Northwestern timeout after Olson hit a three-pointer with 6:45 remaining, Jordan Hobbs found Syla Swords for a layup and a 50-44 U-M lead.
The Wildcats answered, scoring nine of the next 11 points for a 53-52 lead with 3:36 on the clock. Hobbs took over from there, accounting for Michigan's next six points on a trio of acrobatic layups for a 58-54 U-M lead at the 2:21 mark. Mila Holloway put the game away with a step-back jumper at the free-throw line with 26 seconds remaining to account for the 60-54 margin.
Olson led the Wolverines offensively, going for 18 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Hobbs had 16 points, five boards, and three assists, with Holloway chipping in 10 points. Michigan weathered a poor shooting night, hitting just 36.1 percent of its shots from the field, by owning a 42-34 advantage on the glass. Michigan hit 8-of-15 shots in the final period while holding Northwestern to 3-for-11 shooting to secure the come-from-behind win.
Michigan started fast, holding a 20-13 lead after 10 minutes of action following a Holloway layup to beat the first-quarter horn. The Wolverines were balanced in scoring in the first quarter, with six different players finding the scoring column.
U-M led by as many as nine points in the second quarter, but Northwestern closed the half on a 7-0 run to climb within a point, 32-31, of the Maize and Blue at the break.
The NU run continued in the third quarter as the Wildcats scored the first six points for a 37-32 lead at the 6:21 mark of the period. A Hobbs triple stopped the run as the Northwestern lead stayed at one possession the rest of the way until the Wildcats hit a triple on their last possession for a 44-40 lead after 30 minutes.
Michigan completes a two-game homestand next Saturday (Dec. 14), hosting Detroit Mercy at 3 p.m.
