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Michigan Women’s Basketball: Wolverines fall just short of Final Four

By Chris Peterson

WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 28: Maddie Nolan #3 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts a three-point shot against Emily Engstler #21 of the Louisville Cardinals during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2022 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Intrust Bank Arena on March 28, 2022 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 28: Maddie Nolan #3 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts a three-point shot against Emily Engstler #21 of the Louisville Cardinals during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2022 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Intrust Bank Arena on March 28, 2022 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The Michigan women’s basketball team fell short of reaching the Final Four but the 2021-22 Wolverines still carved out their place in U-M history.

After losing by 22 points earlier this season against Louisville, a team that was making its fourth consecutive appearance in the Elite 8, compared to the first-ever trip for the Michigan women’s basketball team, the Wolverines more than held their own.

In the end, Louisville’s defense proved to be too strong for the Wolverines, holding Michigan without a field goal for the final 6:52 of the game, although a charge call on Naz Hillmon negated a three-point play opportunity, which was pivotal.

Michigan was down just four points at the time and Hillmon could have had a free throw attempt to get Michigan women’s basketball within one. (A replay was never shown).

The call was also really frustrating because Michigan was called for multiple offensive fouls in the quarter. Leigha Brown had to leave the game due to injury and her playmaking was missed down the stretch.

Even so, after losing by 22 to the Cardinal at the KC Yum! Center earlier this season, a 62-50 defeat, one that doesn’t even really describe how close that game was, is something to be proud of, just as this entire season was something for the program to be proud of.

Over the last two seasons, Michigan women’s basketball has won five NCAA Tournament games. That’s really impressive considering where this program was at one time and while Hillmon has played her last game as a Wolverine, it’s fitting it ended with another double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds).

Maddie Nolan made three 3-pointers and had nine points. Laila Phelia also had eight points but finished on a cold streak, however, she was forced to try and create too much at the end of the shot clock.

Still, it was a great season and Kim Barnes Arico and her team should be incredibly proud.

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