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U-M's Fourth-Quarter Rally Not Enough Against No. 2 UCLA
2/8/2026 6:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan women's basketball team staged a fourth-quarter rally, cutting a double-digit deficit to a single possession in the final seconds, but fell, 69-66, to No. 2 UCLA on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 8) at Crisler Center.Â
Trailing by six with less than 30 seconds to play, Olivia Olson buried an off-balanced three-pointer in transition to ignite the home crowd. On the following possession, the Wolverines forced a UCLA turnover, setting up Syla Swords for a triple at the 16-second mark to make it 69-66.Â
After UCLA missed both free throws on the other end, Te'Yala Delfosse secured the rebound and called a timeout to advance the ball, giving Michigan a final opportunity with 13 seconds remaining. Swords' three-point attempt fell short, and the Wolverines were unable to secure an equalizer before the buzzer.
Olson led Michigan with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-21 shooting and seven rebounds to top the 1,000-point mark for her career. Mila Holloway joined her in double figures with 15 points and a team-high six assists, while Delfosse provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. Brooke Quarles Daniels anchored the interior with seven points and eight rebounds -- six of which came on the offensive end.Â
Michigan grabbed an early 10-4 lead behind a Quarles Daniels jumper and a Holloway three-point play, eventually taking a 17-13 lead into the second quarter after a Holloway fade-away at the buzzer. The Wolverine defense was the story early, forcing nine UCLA turnovers in the first half alone. The Bruins responded with a surge in the second quarter, utilizing their size to take a 33-30 lead into the halftime break.
The Bruins opened the third quarter on a run to extend their advantage, but Michigan stayed within striking distance thanks to a block by Olson and a late jumper from Delfosse that cut the deficit to 54-45 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Michigan chipped away to start the fourth quarter, using an Olson layup in transition and a triple to get within six, 58-52, with 6:40 remaining. UCLA pushed its lead back to 11, 65-54, with 2:24 left to set up the final sequence. Â
U-M will hit the road for a Thursday (Feb. 12) contest at Northwestern, facing the Wildcats at 8 p.m. CT.
